Ben Higgins Explains Why He’s Keeping His New Girlfriend’s Identity Private for Now

The biggest thing about Rachael and Matt's breakup was how sudden it was — for fans and Rachael alike. She told Alex that it was "definitely out of nowhere" while they were on a trip in Tokyo. She said, "Everything was fine the night before. We didn't have an argument, but I was feeling very overwhelmed.

Rachael explained that it all stemmed from every couple's dreaded dilemma: what they should have for dinner. According to Rachael, she was trying to pick a restaurant for dinner while they were out of town, and she felt a lot of pressure to find a "good" place to eat because "he cares" (given Matt's a food content creator). She said, "Anywhere we'd go, literally every single meal that we would have, we were filming."

Given that pressure — and her period (been there, girl!) — Rachael said she was super overwhelmed and emotional. When they finally found somewhere for dinner, she was feeling all of the things and teared up at dinner, while Matt apparently sat there silently. She didn't think it was "anything serious," but the next day everything seemed to fall apart.

When Rachael asked Matt why he was quiet the night before, he started opening up. She said, "He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife." Then, Rachael claims Matt said the he "couldn't see myself married to you." OOF.

Rachael's response? "I feel like after four years you should know or you should feel ready. And if you don't, then that's not a good thing. We probably shouldn't be together."

Matt shared the breakup on Instagramjust three hours after their conversation, leaving Rachael on a 12 1/2 hour international flight without anyone to talk to about it. Instead, she said she was left to anxiously process the breakup alone on the plane, unsure of what people were even saying about it all.

The aftermath of that conversation lead to Matt's out-of-the blue Instagram post, sharing the breakup with the world — just three hours afterwards. Rachael had to get on a 12 1/2 hour international flight back home afterwards, stuck processing this alone without access to her friends or family. She couldn't even see what everyone was saying about the shocking news.

Needless to say, everyone was surprised that Matt went from sharing a video eating pizza with Rachael one day (January 15) to posting their breakup the next (January 16). And it was confusing for Rachael, too. "That's probably one of the saddest things about just picturing your life with someone and thinking that is how your life's gonna look, and now it's just all taken away," Rachael said. "We talked about rings. He told me a few months ago to start saving some things, picking things out that we should go look at."

She said, "I'm still in total shock. I think that’s why I didn’t say anything. Still haven't made a statement or anything because I'm processing this just like everyone else is."

Watch Rachael Kirkconnell's Full 'Call Her Daddy' Episode Here:

We hope Rachael is able to process this painful breakup peacefully.

Who is the Golden Bachelorette?

Joan Vassos, a 61 year-old school administrator, will star in the upcoming The Golden Bachelorspinoff as the Golden Bachelorette. She was a contestant on The Golden Bachelor's first season, but chose to leave the show to be with her daughter who was experiencing a medical emergency at the time.

The Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, shared his congratulations towards Joan via an Instagram post reading:

"Dear Joan, congratulations on being named the first ever Golden Bachelorette. You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation. From one Golden to another... relax, breathe, and enjoy. Gerry."

Winner of The Golden Bachelor, Theresa Nist, spread more love via Instagram Stories. She shared a few smiley photos of her and Joan together with the caption reading: "My dear friend, Joan, I am so excited for you!!"

Who will be part of "The Golden Bachelorette"?

The men of The Golden Bachelorette have been announced and it looks like they're going to keep Joan on her toes because they're hot!

If you don't feel like counting, there's 24 sexy grandpas who'll be competing for a chance to win the #1 spot in Joan's romantic life and they have amazing backgrounds.

According to Entertainment Weekly, here's everything you need to know about them:

Bill, Retired Videographer

Age: 68

City: Portland, OR

Bob, Chiropractor

Age: 66

City: Marina Del Rey, CA

Charles K., Portfolio Manager

Age: 62

City: Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA

Charles L., Retired Financial Analyst

Age: 66

City: Philadelphia, PA

Chock, Insurance Executive

Age: 60

City: Wichita, KA

Christopher S., Contractor

Age: 64

City: West Babylon, NY

Dan R., Private Investor

Age: 64

City: Naples, FL

David H., Rancher

Age: 68

City: Austin, TX

Gary L., Retired Finance Executive

Age: 65

City: Palm Desert, CA

Gil R., Educator

Age: 60

City: Mission Viejo, CA

Gregg L., Retired University Vice President

Age: 64

City: Longboat Key, FL

Guy C., Emergency Room Doctor

Age: 66

City: Reno, NV

Jack L., Caterer

Age: 68

City: Chicago, IL

Jonathan R., Shipping Consultant

Age: 61

City: Oakland, IA

Jordan H., Sales Manager

Age: 61

City: Chicago, IL

Keith G., Girl Dad

Age: 62

City: San Jose, CA

Ken O., Property Management Treasurer

Age: 60

City: Peabody, MA

Kim B., Retired Navy Captain

Age: 69

City: Seattle, WA

Mark A., Army Veteran

Age: 57

City: Leesville, LA

Michael S., Retired Banking CEO

Age: 65

City: Denver, NC

Pablo, Retired UN Agency Advisor

Age: 63

City: Cambridge, MD

Pascal, Salon Owner

Age: 69

City: Chicao, IL

R.J., Financial Advisor

Age: 66

City: Irvine, CA

Thomas H., FDNY Chief

Age: 62

City: New York, NY

When will "The Golden Bachelorette" air?

The Golden Bachelorette airs September 18 on ABC! You'll also be able to stream episodes on Hulu.

Watch The Full Trailer For "The Golden Bachelorette"

How can I watch "The Golden Bachelorette"?

According to ABC, The Golden Bachelorette will air on ABC and be available to stream on Hulu the following day. Historically, the different installments of The Bachelor have aired on Thursdays at 8pm ET.

What is the cast of "The Golden Bachelor" up to now?

It just so happens that our most beloved contestants from The Golden Bachelor, Kathy and Susan, have been working on a podcast titled Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour. They've posted tons of episodes dishing on The Golden Bachelor experience.

The pair definitely showed some real chemistry during the first-ever Golden Bachelor, and the podcast is a true testament to their friendship.

“We can finish each other's sentences,” Susan told PhillyVoice about Kathy. “We're night and day, but yet we're the same in a sense. We just roll off each other, and it's so easy.”

As far as the winners of The Golden Bachelor, Gerry and Theresa, things worked out for a bit, but they mutually decided to end their marriage in April 2024. Many speculated that they split because they had settled down in different places of the country and found it hard to relocate for love.

“We looked at homes in South Carolina, we considered New Jersey, and we just looked at homes after home,” Theresa said during an interview on Good Morning America, “but we never got to the point where we made that decision.”

How successful was "The Golden Bachelor"?

According to Variety, the first installment of The Golden Bachelor reached about 43.4 million viewers, making it ABC’s most-watched unscripted premiere on Hulu. The finale amassed 6.1 million viewers, deeming it the biggest episode in Bachelor history in nearly 3 years.

We had so much fun watching the very first installment of The Golden Bachelor, that we just can’t wait to see the roles reversed for The Golden Bachelorette. The hype is very real!

1. What Women Want (2000)

This film follows a charming but egotistical man, played by Mel Gibson, who gains the ability to hear women's thoughts, only to realize they're not as enamored with him as he thought.

While the premise is intriguing, the film relies on outdated gender stereotypes. Moreover, Mel's character is too easily redeemed, particularly by his daughter, who sees him as an absent father until he makes one grand gesture. As if that erases years of neglect.

2. Bring It On (2000)

Bring It On may be a favorite among teens, but a lot of the film's choices don't hold up in hindsight. It's packed with promiscuous portrayals of teenage cheerleaders (and even flashing), casual use of offensive language, and a central conflict about cultural appropriation that doesn't get the depth it deserves.

The rivalry between the predominantly white and Black cheer squads does touch on an important issue. Still, Bring It On doesn't explore the deeper implications.

3. Sorority Boys (2002)

This plot follows three fraternity brothers who disguise themselves as women and infiltrate a sorority only to (shockingly) realize that treating women like garbage actually hurts them.

Sorority Boys is packed with fat-shaming, misogyny, and crude feminist stereotypes. On top of that, it includes an unsettling subplot where one character unknowingly falls for his own sibling.

4. Love Actually(2003)

Love Actually continues to be a holiday go-to watch for many, but it's riddled with problematic ideas about women and relationships. Emma Thompson's character is heartbreakingly mistreated, and she's still forced to endure her cheating husband.

Then, there's the bizarre fixation on Natalie's weight. And overall, the film reduces most of its female characters to love interests. Love Actually barely scrapes by the Bechdel test, with the only meaningful female-to-female exchange being between Karen and her young daughter.

5. Freaky Friday (2003)

This teen comedy features a mother and daughter who magically switch bodies and are forced to navigate each other's lives. While Freaky Friday felt funny and fresh for its time, one of the more uncomfortable aspects of the film involves covert age gap relationships.

Anna, played by Lindsay Lohan, has a crush on Jake. However, since Anna's mind is trapped in her mother's body, it creates awkward moments where Jake is unknowingly flirting with an adult woman inhabited by a teenager.

6. Waiting... (2005)

This was meant to be a raunchy workplace comedy about the chaos of working in a restaurant, but looking back, much of its humor is cringe-worthy and uncomfortable.

Harassment is treated casually, with multiple scenes featuring male employees hitting on younger female staff members (including an underage hostess). The film also leans on homophobic slurs and misogyny, with many jokes revolving around degrading women.

7. John Tucker Must Die (2006)

With over-the-top high school drama and revenge plots, John Tucker Must Die is the epitome of 2000s teen comedy. But even though the movie tries to position itself as a feminist takedown of a serial womanizer, it actually ends up making John Tucker look more desirable.

Similar to Bring It On, many scenes also feel like they're designed for the male gaze rather than female empowerment.

8. Freedom Writers (2007)

Freedom Writers follows a white teacher who steps in to "save" a group of underprivileged students. It falsely suggests that one determined teacher can single-handedly overcome systemic issues like racism and educational inequality as long as they're willing to sacrifice everything else in their life.

Sure, Erin Gruwell's real-life dedication is admirable, but the movie focuses on a feel-good narrative where personal effort alone is enough to fix deeply rooted social issues.

9. The Blind Side (2009)

This film is one of the most glaring examples of Hollywood's white savior complex. Despite being marketed as an inspiring true story, it reduces Michael Oher to a passive character in his own journey and portrays him as helpless until a wealthy white family takes him in.

The Blind Side focuses far more on Sandra Bullock's character and her supposed heroism than Michael's actual experiences.

10. The Hangover Part II (2011)

Finally, The Hangover Part II is remembered as a wild comedy hit. Still, it has some problems, most notably when Ed Helms' character, Stu, discovers the woman he slept with is actually a trans woman.

The scene is played for laughs as both Ed and Bradley Cooper's characters react with disgust. It's a tough watch today and serves as a reminder of how many 2000s films used outdated or offensive humor for shock value.