Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has once again captured public attention with a video showing him catching two snakes with his bare hands, while his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, squealed in distress. The footage, posted on Kennedy's X account, was captioned: 'Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz's patio.'
The Snake-Wrangling Incident
The video depicts Kennedy, dressed in suit trousers and a tie, chasing two black snakes before snatching them up with his bare hands. He then proudly displays his catch to his wife and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Oz can be heard saying, 'They're having sex!' Kennedy initially identified the snakes as moccasins, commonly known as cottonmouths, prompting Hines to yell, 'Those are dangerous!' He later clarified they were Black Racers, adding that the snakes were biting him as Hines continued to beg him to release the writhing reptiles.
'You are nuts!' she exclaimed, adding, 'Honey, honey, let it go. I can't watch. Bobby, please. Bobby, please!' Dr. Oz laughed in the background as Hines grew increasingly distraught, while Kennedy appeared unbothered, laughing as the snakes attempted to bite him. It remains unclear where the video was filmed, though Dr. Oz owns an $18 million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.
Public Reaction
The video has generated thousands of comments, with some questioning Kennedy's decision and others praising his nonchalance. One comment read, 'The Bravery is Everything. I don't think many can do that.' Another joked, 'This just makes me wonder what percentage of men would actually do this with their bare hands.' A third noted, 'I’m pretty sure that’s not cheerleading …' referencing Hines' panicked reaction.
Kennedy's History with Animals
Kennedy has a long and often bizarre history with animals. Hines has been through the wringer with his fascination, telling the New York Times in 2024 that she was frequently charged at by her husband's pet emu. She confessed to waking up and wondering, 'Is today going to be the day that I wake up and kill an emu in my backyard?'
Kennedy's daughter, Kick, told Town & Country that her father once brought home the head of a whale carcass while they were vacationing in Cape Cod, the Kennedys' longtime summer destination. He also keeps multiple pet ravens and grew up with pet peacocks, crows, owls, and pigeons.
Controversial Incidents
One of Kennedy's most famous animal encounters occurred when Vanity Fair published a 2010 photo of him holding up a dog carcass and appearing to take a bite out of it. He later said the carcass was a goat's and denied that he would eat a dog. Kennedy also has a history with snakes; Jerry Oppenheimer wrote in a 2015 biography that he brought a sack of reptiles aboard a flight as a child.
During divorce proceedings from his second wife, Kennedy's lawyers said he experienced brain fog and memory loss 'caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,' according to the New York Times. A spokesperson later clarified that the worm entered his brain while he was traveling in Africa, South America, and Asia.
