Cheryl Hines has stepped forward to defend her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., amidst an alleged sexting controversy, attributing it to the usual “chaos” that accompanies election season.
Last year, Kennedy, now 71, became the center of a scandal involving Olivia Nuzzi, a journalist from New York Magazine at the time. Nuzzi is reportedly preparing to release a memoir detailing what she claims was a “digital affair” with the well-known political figure.
Hines, best known for her role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” did not hold back in criticizing the journalist during an upcoming episode of The Katie Miller Podcast. Politico Playbook has shared a preview of this episode, where Hines makes her stance clear.
When asked by Miller about handling “rumors or speculation” surrounding her marriage, which has been under public scrutiny due to these allegations, Hines emphasized her trust in her husband of 11 years.
“I think you always have to consider the source, right? So that’s where I start,” Hines remarked. “And then it ends with a conversation with Bobby,” she added, highlighting the importance of communication and trust in their relationship.
‘I think you always have to consider the source, right? So that’s where I start,’ Hines said. ‘And then it ends with a conversation with Bobby.’
She said she had expected some rumors as her husband was running for president, but admitted the reality of it was ‘exhausting.’Â
‘Bobby had been running for president and it was an exhausting year-and-a-half of headlines and rumors and articles and chaos,’ she explained.
Cheryl Hines has defended husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr ‘s alleged sexting scandal by dismissing it as election ‘chaos’Â
‘And at that time, I thought “OK, this is more chaos and more rumors.” And, um, it was a lot,’ the actress reflected.
Hines was also asked about Nuzzi’s upcoming memoir, which is reportedly set to details about the alleged digital affair.
‘I don’t know this person. Don’t know their intentions,’ Hines replied. ‘I could guess, but I won’t. But you can if you want.’
Kennedy and his representatives have denied an inappropriate relationship, claiming he met Nuzzi – who lost her job and her fiancé over the scandal – only once, which was during the interview.Â
Hines was reportedly left in ‘shock and distress’ after the alleged digital affair, but has remained by her husband’s side.Â
Nuzzi’s memoir will reportedly address her relationship with Kennedy, according to Status.
Nuzzi previously served as the Washington correspondent for New York Magazine from 2017 to 2024, where she was known for her coverage of political power players in Washington, D.C.
However, she was let go from her job at the end last year following reports that she had been ’emotionally involved’ with the independent presidential candidate while writing a feature on his campaign.
Hines was asked by Miller how she deals with ‘rumors or speculation’ over her marriage, which was under scrutiny following the digital affair claimsÂ
The Curb Your Enthusiasm actress, 60, blasted the journalist over the alleged digital affair claims in an upcoming episode of The Katie Miller Podcast, in a preview obtained by the Politico Playbook. Pictured: Olivia NuzziÂ
Hines was reportedly left in ‘shock and distress’ after the alleged digital affair, but has remained by her husband’s side
The reporter’s memoir, entitled American Canto, is set to delve into her relationship with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and will reportedly include the text messages that Kennedy sent her as she was writing a feature on his presidential campaign.Â
Nuzzi interviewed Kennedy in November 2023 at their Californian home in Brentwood he shares with Hines and their three dogs.
Nuzzi and Kennedy went for a hike and exchanged numbers. According to Nuzzi, who was placed on leave from New York Magazine following the scandal and later parted ways with the publication, the relationship didn’t progress past sexting.
At the time, Nuzzi admitted that ‘the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal’, in a statement given to the Daily Mail.
Kennedy insisted he only met Nuzzi – whose engagement to Politico Chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza was called off last year after the news broke – on that one occasion.
Kennedy also called the article ‘a hit piece’ and said that the relationship was ’emotional and digital in nature, not physical.’
The podcast appearance comes just as Hines has made her most public defense of her husband, having gotten into a screaming match on The View backing his credentials.
Earlier in October, Hines was a guest on The View, and was grilled about her husband’s lack of a medical background, going head-to-head with Sunny Hostin over her husband’s capacity to serve as Health Secretary.
Defending his knowledge, Hines said: ‘He has dedicated his career to suing big corporations because of toxins that have been affecting people’s health…
‘He was part of the team that sued Monsanto because of Roundup, a pesticide that was causing cancer. GMOs right?
‘He sued Dupont, he sued Exxon, and he sued these companies for health reasons, because they were causing health problems.’
But Hostin, 56, pointed out RFK JR’s lack of credentials.
‘But the problem, respectfully, is that your husband is the least qualified Department of Health and Human Services head that we’ve had in history,’ she said.
Surprised by Hostin’s assessment, Hines hit back: ‘Less qualified than an economist?’
‘I think he is less qualified,’ Hostin retorted.
Refusing to back down, the guest continued: ‘He has spent his career studying toxins, studying people’s health, fighting for one guy who was using Roundup for his job.’
He has also spread a lot of misinformation, a lot of chaos, a lot of confusion,’ Sunny said to applause. ‘And I think it’s just a very dangerous thing. I say it with the utmost respect.’
‘Listen, we all have different views here,’ Hines continued. ‘And when you say misinformation, disinformation, we could go back to Covid when…’
Before she could finish, Hostin quipped: ‘He’s connected circumcision to autism.’
