In an unexpected twist on Black Friday marketing, Cheryl Hines, actress and wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted a video featuring her husband in the shower as she promoted her eco-friendly beauty line, Hines+Young. The video, originally shared on Instagram, showed Hines pitching her products while RFK Jr., 70, could be seen scrubbing in the background.
"No, you can't take a shower. I'm doing a video," Hines, 59, said, her tone a mix of amusement and exasperation. She continued, "Honey, 60% off for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I've got to turn this off before he gets out." The lighthearted moment was paired with promotional messaging about her beauty brand, which she founded with her daughter, Cat, in 2023 to focus on eco-conscious products and combat plastic waste in the beauty industry.
Hines captioned the video, "Oh Bobby," punctuating it with heart and smiley face emojis. She followed it with a post showcasing candles from her line, which also ties into Kennedy's campaign slogan, "Make America Healthy Again."
The post immediately went viral, drawing both curiosity and criticism, as it came shortly after a scandal involving RFK Jr. and journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Nuzzi, who was reportedly involved romantically with Kennedy while covering his now-abandoned presidential campaign, had left New York Magazine earlier this year. The controversy, coupled with Kennedy's contentious public image, added fuel to the online chatter surrounding the video.
“You can’t take a shower!” The MAGA grift runs deep. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears in a promotional video showering to help his wife Cheryl Hines hawk self-care products. Get ready for four years of this. pic.twitter.com/nephQ674Rv — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 30, 2024
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and vaccine skeptic who has faced backlash for promoting medical misinformation, abandoned his independent presidential bid in August. Instead, he endorsed former President Donald Trump, who later won the 2024 election. In return, Trump selected Kennedy as his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, a move that has sparked significant debate given Kennedy's polarizing views on public health.
Hines, best known for her role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, seemed unbothered by the criticism. Her focus on her beauty line reflects her desire to create products that align with her environmental values. "With this in mind, my daughter Cat and I launched Hines+Young to explore new ways to feel good without contributing to the problem of plastics," Hines wrote on the company's website.
The video has also reignited discussions about Kennedy's transition from environmental advocacy to politics and his role in Trump's administration. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy would oversee critical areas of public health policy, including food safety and medical regulations. His tenure, if confirmed, is expected to be marked by controversy given his history of promoting debunked medical claims.
Despite the challenges, Hines and Kennedy appear to maintain a strong personal bond. The couple, who married in 2014, have previously spoken about their differing worlds and the balance they bring to their relationship. In an earlier interview, Hines remarked, "I liked that when we got together, we were from two different worlds. I liked that he wasn't in the entertainment business. I liked that he was doing environmental law."
Public reactions to the video ranged from amusement to criticism, with some viewing it as a lighthearted moment while others questioned its appropriateness given Kennedy's political and personal controversies. The viral nature of the post has nonetheless brought attention to Hines' beauty line, underscoring her dual role as both an actress and a businesswoman.
