Emmy award-winning actress Cheryl Hines has disclosed that her husband, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once suggested they publicly pretend to be separated. This drastic proposal was his suggested solution to protect her from intense criticism from her Hollywood peers over his controversial stance on Covid-19 vaccines and pandemic policies.
A Protective Ploy Amid Political Firestorm
Speaking candidly to Dr. Phil McGraw, the 60-year-old star of Curb Your Enthusiasm described a period when "things got really intense" due to her husband's public statements. Kennedy, 71, was vocal about demanding to see safety studies for the Covid vaccine and opposed mandates and lockdowns, positions that were deeply unpopular within their Los Angeles social circle.
"The general feeling was he should not be talking about this, and you should tell him not to talk about this, and why are you with him?" Hines revealed. The backlash escalated to the point where some acquaintances told her they could not be around her because of her marriage.
An Offer Born of Concern, Firmly Declined
Witnessing his wife's distress, Kennedy floated the idea of announcing a separation to ease the social and professional pressure on her. "Bobby was seeing me go through that and he said maybe it would just be better if we just told people we weren't together," Hines recounted. However, she immediately dismissed the idea, stating plainly, "I didn't consider it."
Despite never seriously entertaining the proposal, Hines said she found her husband's gesture "sweet" and sensitive, acknowledging it came from a place of concern for her wellbeing. She firmly grounded her refusal in the foundations of their relationship, telling Dr. Phil, "I didn't marry him because of his politics, why would I leave him because of his politics? That's not the relationship we have."
Not the First Dramatic Proposal
This was not the only time Kennedy suggested such a dramatic ploy. Hines confirmed he made an identical proposal in 2024 during his official presidential campaign, a period also marred by a separate scandal. At that time, Kennedy was embroiled in reports of an "emotional and digital" connection with New York Magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi, 32, while she was profiling his campaign.
Kennedy denied any inappropriate relationship, claiming they met only once for an interview. An internal investigation by the magazine found no inaccuracies in Nuzzi's reporting, though the controversy contributed to her departure from the publication. Amid this dual storm of political and personal scrutiny, Kennedy again suggested a pretend separation to spare his wife the "heat."
Hines reflected that these extreme situations, which few could imagine, ultimately brought them closer together. Kennedy later dropped out of the presidential race, endorsed Donald Trump, and was subsequently appointed Health Secretary.
