Matt James returned to Instagram after deactivating his account, but deleted almost all of the Bachelor’s content from his grid after a racism scandal involving his season.
Now, when fans visit Matt’s Instagram page, they are greeted mainly by photos of the skate star, hanging out with friends and working with his charity, ABC Food Tours.
James, 29, became the first black bachelor in the franchise’s 19-year history, but his time on the series ended in controversy after the woman he ended up selecting, Rachael Kirkconnell, was photographed attending a plantation-themed party in 2018.
Excluded! Matt James returned to Instagram after deactivating his account, but deleted almost all of the bachelor’s content from his grade in the midst of a racism scandal that involved his season
Shortly after the images of her at the party emerged, host Chris Harrison defended her – but this resulted in a big reaction, and the longtime host stopped performing the After The Final Rose special. Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams were later brought in to replace him in the next season of The Bachelorette.
Despite excluding all content related to the Bachelor’s Degree, he left his statement addressing the controversy surrounding Rachael and Chris, as well as a photo of him skateboarding next to his Bachelor’s billboard.
Matt ended his final choice of rose, Rachael, after the racist controversy broke out earlier this year.
The two never got engaged and ended up leaving the series in a relationship, and Matt was taken aback when news about his controversial past began to circulate.
Split: the woman to whom James gave his final rose, Rachael Kirkconnell, was photographed participating in a plantation-themed party in 2018
– You want to believe that you know your person better than anyone else. This controversy revolves around who Rachael is and events she may have attended, photos she liked and people she related to, ‘he said in After The Final Rose.
– I’m trying to support you and dismissed them as rumors, because that’s what they were for me. You hear things that are heartbreaking and pray that they are not true. And then, when you find out who they are, it just makes you question everything, ‘he added.
Discussing the ‘weight’ of seeing Rachael for the first time in the special, he told Good Morning America: ‘It hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt the weight of everything I carried throughout the season and what we were dealing with as a country and having to explain it – because I think it is problematic for me and our relationship – which was extremely difficult. ‘
‘It hit me like a ton of bricks’: James described the ‘weight’ of seeing Rachael for the first time at AFTR
Rachael repeatedly apologized for his actions.
In an Instagram video last month, Rachael responded to the controversy, which included photos of her attending the antebellum-themed college party, as well as allegedly liking and sharing social media posts with the Confederation flag and Qanon plots.
She had already posted a written statement.
At the beginning of the seven-and-a-half-minute video, Rachael said: ‘The first big step in all of this is whites stepping up and taking responsibility. Things will never change if we don’t all work together for the racial progress and the unity we want. ‘
Single again: Matt ended his final choice of rose, Rachael, after the racist controversy broke out earlier this year
Rachael went on to emphasize the importance of having unpleasant conversations and striving to ‘unlearn’ racism.
‘I did not recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that does not excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or correct in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.
‘Learning never stops. We all need to continue to educate ourselves, ‘she said, pointing out to viewers the anti-racism features in her Instagram story and biography. It included articles entitled, ‘How I confronted the truth about my brotherhood’s racist story’ and ‘Why your native-inspired Halloween costume devalues our indigenous cultures.’
Leaving aside: Chris Harrison has been replaced by Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams for the next season of The Bachelorette