The personal life of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2024 presidential candidate and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, is under intense scrutiny following allegations of an online affair with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi. At the center of this media storm is his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, who was notably seen without her wedding ring at Milan Fashion Week, raising further questions about the state of their marriage.
Hines, best known for her role in Curb Your Enthusiasm, attended a Gucci afterparty on Friday, September 20, where she appeared to be in good spirits, smiling widely for the cameras. However, keen observers noted the absence of her wedding ring, which she had been wearing less than a week prior at the Emmy Awards. The 59-year-old actress wore a stylish leather jacket and blue suit pants, drawing attention to her bare left hand, which dangled a set of keys. While she did have a smaller ring on her finger, it was noticeably not the diamond wedding band from her marriage to RFK Jr.
The timing of her ring-less appearance coincides with a scandal involving her husband and Olivia Nuzzi, a political reporter for New York Magazine. Nuzzi alleged that she had exchanged inappropriate messages with RFK Jr., though she claimed the relationship was never physical. In a statement, Nuzzi admitted that her communication with Kennedy had "turned personal," but stressed it did not interfere with her journalistic duties. "The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict," Nuzzi said, expressing regret for not being transparent earlier.
RFK Jr.'s team has categorically denied any inappropriate relationship with Nuzzi, stating that they met only once for a professional interview and that Nuzzi's subsequent article on Kennedy was highly critical. Kennedy's campaign responded to the allegations, saying, "Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece." Despite the denials, the scandal has reignited public interest in RFK Jr.'s personal life and has sparked debates about the boundaries between politicians and journalists.
Adding to the intrigue, RFK Jr. appeared at a political event in Las Vegas the day after Hines was spotted in Milan, still wearing his wedding ring. He was in attendance for an event organized by Donald Trump's "Reclaim America Tour" and shared the stage with former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard. During the event, the 70-year-old Kennedy criticized the current Democratic Party, saying it no longer represents the values of the party he grew up with.
While RFK Jr. continues to navigate the political fallout, Cheryl Hines has remained silent about the state of her decade-long marriage. The couple, who wed in 2014, have faced numerous public challenges, including Kennedy's controversial anti-vaccine stance during the pandemic and bizarre anecdotes that have surfaced from his past, such as admitting to dumping a bear's corpse in Central Park and reportedly beheading a dead whale decades ago.
Hines' friends reportedly warned her early on about Kennedy's checkered history, which includes allegations of infidelity. Kennedy was previously married to Mary Richardson Kennedy, who tragically died by suicide in 2012. Hines and Kennedy were both married to other people when they first met in 2006, introduced by Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star Larry David at a fundraiser in Canada. David, known for his dry humor, later joked about his role in their relationship, saying, "Why would you do that? Are you crazy?"
The couple went public with their relationship in 2011 and have since presented a united front despite Kennedy's sometimes controversial behavior and political stances. Hines, a lifelong Democrat, has had to balance her career in liberal Hollywood with her husband's often unorthodox views. Recently, Real Time host Bill Maher came to Hines' defense, criticizing those who targeted her online for her husband's controversial positions. "Going after the wife... even the mafia doesn't do that," Maher said in a pointed monologue, calling out critics on social media.
While the public continues to speculate about the future of Hines and Kennedy's marriage, the actress has shown resilience amid the controversy. In past interviews, RFK Jr. has expressed admiration for his wife, particularly as she has dealt with the backlash from his political campaign. "I think it causes her a lot of discomfort," Kennedy admitted to TMZ, referring to the friction between Hines' Democratic roots and his own political leanings, which include vocal support for former President Donald Trump.
