Matt James confirms those rumours he and Rachael Kirkconnell are ‘focusing on’ their relationship

Looks like Bachelor Matt James and his chosen winner Rachael Kirkconnell have reunited and are sorta, kinda back together? After breaking up officially for all the world to see during the After The Final Rose special (during which Rachael apologized for her past participation in racially insensitive antebellum-themed parties), Matt has confirmed that he is “focussing” on Rachael and only Rachael right now.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Matt confirmed, “I've seen Rachael a handful of times. I'm not pursuing any relationships right now outside of that. I said I was going to focus on my relationship with her and that means focusing on it.”

Hm. Interesting. Anyway, it's not what he was saying at AFR. At the time, he was saying he couldn’t be with Rachael because he wanted, “to take a step back and allow her to put in that work. The work and reconciliation that needs to be done is work that I can't do for you.”

And when speaking about the photos of Rachael that surfaced at racially insensitive antebellum-themed parties, he said, “If you don’t understand that something like that is problematic in 2018, there’s a lot of me that you won’t understand. It’s as simple as that.”

So, Matt – and we mean this with all due respect – what?

When PEOPLE pressed Matt on “the work” Rachael has been doing to unlearn her toxic, racist tendencies and educating herself, Matt replied, “that's something you could talk to her about.”

The news comes after several photos of the pair hanging out were published in TMZ. Reality Steve also posted a stealth photo of the pair chowing down on some nosh together at Newport Beach in California.

The Rachael-racism-row rocked Bachelor Nation earlier this year, with both Matt and Rachael releasing statements during the airing of the show: Matt to denounce Rachael’s behaviour, and Rachael to apologize.

Even long-time host Chris Harrison got involved, taking Rachael’s side during an explosive interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra; the backlash from which resulted in Chris temporarily stepping aside as host. Emmanuel Acho hosted the AFR special, and former Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe have stepped in for The Bachelorette hosting duties this summer.

News of the former flames rekindling hit Twitter pretty hard. If there’s one thing about Bachelor Nation, they don’t mince tweets.

Well, Matt and Rachael, we hope she's done the work and wish you nothing but good luck and a happy life.

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