RFK Jr. Offers Fake Separation to Protect Wife Amid 2024 Sexting Scandal

Cheryl Hines, wife of Health Secretary and 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., disclosed that during a difficult period in their marriage amid his campaign and a sexting scandal, Kennedy proposed a "fake separation" to shield her from public backlash. Hines described the proposal as a "very sweet notion" but ultimately "dramatic and extreme," emphasizing that the experience brought them closer. The scandal involved Kennedy's emotional involvement with New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi, who was covering his campaign. Kennedy denied any inappropriate relationship, claiming a single meeting with Nuzzi, while an internal investigation found no bias in her reporting, though the controversy led to her departure from the magazine. Hines stood by Kennedy throughout the ordeal, refusing to comment publicly at the time. These insights are detailed in Hines's memoir "Unscripted," highlighting the unique pressures faced by the couple during the campaign.