As fans are still reeling over Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s split, Us couldn’t help but wonder if they could hand out (or accept) roses again one day.
“I think it’s open,” host Jesse Palmer told Us Weekly during an exclusive interview about his partnership with Great Clips. “First off, I was really sad to read that and see that as well. And I certainly hope they’re both doing OK. This must be a really, really tough time for the two of them. And I know they want [and] are going to need time to process everything that happened.”
James, 33, announced on Thursday, January 16, that he and Kirkconnell, 28, had split. He used a photo from season 25 of The Bachelor – where they met four years ago — for his headline-making announcement post.
“I think the last thing they wanted to think about is rushing back into the show,” Palmer continued. “These decisions go way above my head.I absolutely think, though, that the show would consider having one or both back at some point down the road if they were open to it. Absolutely.”
While Kirkconnell and James are the latest split to rock Bachelor Nation, the most recent season of the show — The Golden Bachelorette season 1 starring Joan Vassos — ended with an engagement.
Rachael Kirkconnell, Matt James. Noam Galai/Getty Images
“They’re all over,” Palmer told Us when asked about Vassos and fiancé Chock Chapple. “They’re in New York and then they’re visiting her family and they’re back in Kansas and they’re just all over the place. They’re a very hard Bachelor couple to keep up with, in all honesty.”
Vassos, 62, and Chapple, 61, have said that they aren’t in a rush to walk down the aisle.
“But I know they’re both very excited,” Palmer continued. “They’re enjoying each other’s company. And listen, I certainly hope wedding bells are on the horizon sooner than later, but they’ve earned this right to kind of have their time to enjoy each other and if they need an officiant, I know a guy.”
In the meantime, Palmer is gearing up for the premiere of Grant Ellis’ season 29 of The Bachelor.
Jesse Palmer. Disney/John Fleenor
“I don’t want to speak on behalf of Grant, but I think he’s very, very happy with how things ended,” Palmer teased to Us. “I know he’s really excited for everybody to watch this whole thing unfold. Grant’s a very easy guy to root for. I’m a fan of his and I know he’s a guy that’s been so successful in everything he’s done in his life outside of love [so far].”
Fans who have been waiting for the return of the ABC show have seen plenty of Palmer on the network via his Great Clips commercial, which aired throughout the College Football Playoff and promoted the brand’s $9.99 haircut.
“I’m sorry, I’m not sorry,” he joked to Us about how often the ad aired. “I had so much fun doing that. It was great. It’s the best time of year — The national championship, the playoff. We all want to look and feel our best. It’s great.”
The Great Clips coupon will be valid only at participating salons through January 31, 2025.