Cheryl Hines Breaks Her Silence: RFK Jr.’s Teen Affair With Olivia Nuzzi Was “Chaos and Rumors,” Says Wife Who Stood by Him
In a rare and pointed public statement, actress Cheryl Hines, wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has dismissed the sexting scandal involving the then-New York Magazine writer Olivia Nuzzi as little more than “chaos and rumors.” The revelation comes amid months of speculation, legal threats and media scrutiny surrounding a relationship that the magazine described as “personal” though allegedly non-physical. Hines’ comments represent one of the most direct defenses of Kennedy by a spouse caught in a public ethics storm.
Hines spoke candidly on “The Katie Miller Podcast” this week, explaining why she stood by Kennedy despite the wild headlines. “You always have to consider the source, right? So that’s where I start,” she said, referring to Nuzzi and the media firestorm. She continued: “And then it ends with a conversation with Bobby.” According to a sneak preview obtained by Politico Playbook, Hines admitted she had been “in a state of shock and distress” but ultimately “emphatically believed, without reservation, Bobby’s denial.” This came after an insider told The New York Post that Hines went through a period of emotional turmoil following the scandal, but that she chose to publicly defend her husband.
Kennedy’s camp previously maintained that the two had only met once, for a professional interview, and denied any physical intimacy. Nuzzi, for her part, acknowledged only that the communications turned personal while she was covering his campaign — though she said they were never physical. In September 2024, New York Magazine placed Nuzzi on leave and later parted ways with her.
Hines said the scandal had erupted during the most exhausting phase of Kennedy’s presidential campaign, when headlines and rumors swirled ceaselessly. “Bobby had been running for president and it was an exhausting year-and-a-half of headlines and rumors and articles and chaos,” she said. Her willingness to stand by Kennedy now appears rooted in their shared history, her belief in his denials, and a commitment to navigate the fallout together.
The actress also questioned Nuzzi’s motives, raising doubts about why the former New York Magazine writer would bring the story back into the spotlight via a highly anticipated memoir. “I don’t know this person. Don’t know their intentions,” Hines said of Nuzzi. “I could guess, but I won’t. But you can if you want.”
Despite the public defense, sources tell The Post that Hines’ private response to the scandal was far less composed. Early on, friends said she was blindsided by the sexting revelations and felt deeply hurt. But what began in turmoil has now evolved into a unified front, with Hines actively working on her own memoir slated for release, and Kennedy continuing his career as Secretary of Health under Donald Trump’s administration.
Media ethics experts say the case underscores the dangers when journalists and subjects are entangled in personal relationships. For Hines and Kennedy, however, it has become a test of trust, permanence and public perseverance. In her remarks, Hines portrayed herself as both resilient and calculated — unbowed and unapologetic. “My marriage is not defined by the noise,” she said. “It’s defined by the choice to stay.”
