The Bachelor star Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell's relationship is back on, but Matt is apparently "hesitant" to shout the news from the rooftops.

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"They are back together, but Matt is hesitant to publicly and outrightly confirm it right now because it's still fresh and they still have issues to work through," a source told The New York Post's Page Six.

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"Rachael already faced scrutiny for her past, and now all eyes have shifted to Matt, so he's feeling pressure to set a good example for other Black men."

Matt and Rachael fell in love on The Bachelor's 25th season, which filmed in late 2020 and aired earlier this year, but then Matt revealed on After the Final Rose he had broken up with Rachael in February -- shortly after Rachael apologized for her racially-ignorant and insensitive actions in the last several years -- to allow the Georgia native the time to educate herself on racism in society and become a better person with more awareness.

"He's aware that people are not going to be happy that he jumped back into a relationship with Rachael so soon," the source explained.

"So while he is happy to have her in his life again, he is not ready to scream it from the rooftops yet."

Matt explained on After the Final Rose he had initially brushed off racism allegations against Rachael as rumors and wanted to support and protect her as her boyfriend, but once more evidence emerged of the bachelorette's wrongdoing, he had to "check" himself and how he personally felt about continuing a relationship with her.

Matt claimed that Rachael didn't seem to understand his life or perspective as a Black man in America given she initially couldn't comprehend why photos she had taken at an antebellum-themed "Old South" college fraternity party in 2018 were "problematic" for him and their relationship.

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Matt was apparently subjected to harassment, verbal attacks and hate from people for not sticking by Rachael's side amid the racism controversy -- but she defended him after their split on social media and called him the love of her life.

Since then, Matt told the WSJ Magazine that he's been healing from the scandal and has spoken to therapists.

On how he's "trying to make it work" with Rachael now, Matt shared, "We can have critical conversations about being in this relationship and what I need in a partner -- especially if that woman isn't Black -- to understand what comes with me and my life and being Black."

"It's on people who care about being allies to do the work to be truly antiracist," he added. "And I think it's unfair to leave people without the ability to unlearn and be better."

Matt and Rachael have seen each other about a handful of times over the last month and have been photographed strolling through New York City and California together.

Matt told People late last month that he's "not pursuing any relationships right now outside" of his with Rachael.

"I [am] going to focus on my relationship with her," Matt noted.

When People asked Matt whether Rachael has done the work she promised, Matt replied, "That's something you could talk to her about."

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Matt and Rachael's apparent April reconciliation came about a week after Us Weekly reported the pair were "on non-speaking terms" due to The Bachelor star's alleged attempt to two-time Rachael.

Matt was accused of "trying to hook up" with a woman named Grace in Florida on April 4 and treating her like "a booty call" before reuniting with Rachael in New York only two days later, according to Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone.

"Matt felt horrible about what went down with him and Rachael," a source recently told Us.

Although Rachael was initially skeptical of Matt's intentions after he was allegedly caught lying to her, the source said, "They are having a good time right now and everything feels back to normal between them."

Carbone previously reported that, despite reports Matt just wanted to be Rachael's friend, Matt had allegedly FaceTimed with Rachael every day after their ATFR appearance and said he still loved her and wanted to get back together.

However, on April 4, Matt allegedly reached out to Grace, a woman he had dated before and after Matt was named The Bachelor star last year, during a trip to Miami.

A source told Us last month that Rachael thought she and Matt were on the track to getting back together but once she found out about Grace, she felt "manipulated," "played" and "devastated" by her ex-boyfriend.

Carbone claimed Matt had lied to Rachael about his motive for seeing Grace again and also lied to Grace about his romantic pursuit of Rachael.

(Matt allegedly told Rachael that he needed one more person to fill out a table at a Miami nightclub, but Grace claimed Matt had offered to spend the evening with her alone if she wasn't up for clubbing).

Grace said on Instagram that Rachael was the real "victim" in the situation and deserves "someone better" than Matt.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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