What a time to be Cheryl Hines. The former Curb Your Enthusiasm actor has had a wildly eventful past few months: Her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ran and subsequently shelved a presidential campaign, was credibly accused of sexually assaulting his children’s former babysitter, to which his on-the-record response was a shrugging “I’m not a church boy,” weathered a high-profile sexting scandal with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi, not to mention all kinds of disturbing stuff involving creatures of sea, air, and land (dead bears, decapitated whales, brain worms, angry emus, pet ravens, and a charred animal carcass of contentious origin), and now he’s been announced as Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
For her part, Hines saw the final season of Curb air earlier this year, and she continues to be very enthusiastic about the plastic-free skincare and health line that she launched with her daughter in 2023. A political wife exhausted by the grueling demands of the campaign trail? Not here!
A look at Hines’ public-facing presence ignores Kennedy’s campaign almost entirely in favor of content around Curb and Hines’ other publicity outings and podcast appearances; the actor shares shots of herself grinning with tubs of Hines+Young moisturizer more often than with her husband of 10 years. Unlike the stereotypical political spouse, Hines isn’t standing behind her husband onstage, her beatific smile visible over his shoulder from the audience. She barely acknowledges the man exists, despite Kennedy telling the New York Times in 2023, shortly after he launched his presidential campaign, that “I think ultimately if I get elected, Cheryl will have played a huge role in that.” He continued, “She’s an enormous asset to me, and I don’t think we’ve really unveiled her in her true power yet.”
Hines seems to have sidestepped that imagined role from the very beginning, opting out of unveiling that power. In an interview for the same article, she told the Times, “I support Bobby and I want to be there for him, and I want him to feel loved and supported by me. And at the same time, I don’t feel the need to go to every political event, because I do have my own career.”
Those “wants” are really working overtime, aren’t they?
Kennedy announced his intention to run for president on April 19, 2023. On April 22, 2023, Hines announced that #earthdayiseveryday. A few weeks later, on May 23, she just couldn’t contain herself about “one of the most exciting days of my life”: Getting to share the news that she and her daughter were working on that skincare line.
Her spokesperson did release a decidedly tepid statement the same day as Kennedy’s announcement to outlets who asked: “My husband, Robert Kennedy Jr. announced today he will be running for President and I support his decision,” the released statement read. “He is a fearless leader who understands the needs of the American people and has devoted his life fighting for democracy.” The vibe is that of the mom at the grocery store who tells you that her child dressed himself and that he’s always been “very creative.” Plenty to say, it would seem, that remains unsaid. On Hines’ own accounts, nada.
Cheryl Hines and her husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on March 26, 2024 in Oakland, California.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Her Instagram is bare of any photos of campaign rallies, though she did attend some, or even mentions of Kennedy’s run or live-wire political profile, as is her X (formerly Twitter) account, save for a single tweet on August 23 acknowledging that the campaign was over, a wonder of passive voice and distancing oneself.
