Clare Crawley shaded Matt James after his ex Rachael Kirkconnell’s tell-all interview about their breakup.
The “Bachelorette” Season 16 lead took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday following a social media “detox” to share her thoughts on the recent news of the former “Bachelor” couple calling it quits.
“Remembering that one time I specifically asked producers to please not allow one specific guy on my season because I knew for a fact he was NOT looking for a serious relationship whatsoever and I didn’t want him to waste anyone’s time,” she wrote.
Crawley, 43, added, “So instead, [they] made him the next bachelor.”
The “Bachelor in Paradise” alum did not name James, 33, in her post, but he did not compete on her season in 2020 and was subsequently chosen as the Season 25 “Bachelor.”
Crawley spoke out one day after Kirkconnell, 28, publicly claimed a major point of contention in her relationship with James was his hesitancy to live together, get engaged, marry and have children.
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“We talked about family and kids more than anything,” she said through tears on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast Tuesday. “That sucks more than anything, I think.”
Kirkconnell shared that James had even told her just “a few months ago to start saving some” engagement ring ideas so they could go look at options together.
“It’s confusing to look back on now because when we would talk about things, he always seemed like we were on the same page privately and publicly,” she recalled. “It’s just one of those things you replay a lot over and over again because the words were there … but the actions obviously were not.”
Kirkconnell also reflected on James not wanting to cohabitate until they were married — despite spending most of their time at each other’s homes.
“He’s a very religious man, and I was like, ‘That’s OK, I can do that,'” she said. “But at the same time [I was] a little confused because we were still traveling together and staying at the same hotel. It was like we were living together. Half of his stuff is still at my place in Georgia right now.”
Kirkconnell said she was “blindsided” when James ended their four-year relationship after getting into a few small arguments on a trip to Tokyo earlier this month.
“He said that at the end of the day there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,” she explained. “At the end of the day, there are things that we aren’t compatible with, and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing.”
Just three hours after their split, James decided to share the news in a cryptic Instagram post.
“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he wrote on Jan. 16. “Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord.”
Kirkconnell claimed James did not give her a heads-up about the post and has since privately expressed regret over the way he handled the announcement.
He has yet to publicly comment on her “Call Her Daddy” appearance.
The former couple met on “The Bachelor” and briefly broke up while James’ season aired in 2021 before getting back together.
