Rumours are starting to circulate that Cheryl Hines might decide not to give up her glittering Hollywood life for her spouse. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has had a packed schedule over the summer period, making it difficult to track multiple developments. For one, he has been involved in controversy around the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he oversaw a complete overhaul of an expert panel crucial to vaccine policies. The changes were marked by a clear anti-vaccination bias and drew criticism from multiple quarters, including a public rebuke from figurehead Michael Bloomberg for promoting ‘pseudo-science’. Hiking up Camelback Mountain clad in denim is another feat that has kept him occupied.
Buried amid all these developments is the growing whispers around Kennedy’s personal life and a potential split with his third wife, Cheryl Hines. Kennedy seems to be part of a trend among couples politically allied to the Trump administration. It’s been a rocky time for certain marriages within these circles. Congressman Max Miller, for instance, recently finalized a divorce settlement with his spouse of three years, Emily Moreno, daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno. In another instance, Senator Angela Paxton publicized her decision to part ways with her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, noted for his severe anti-abortion stance.
Observers are jesting that in the world aligned with Make America Great Again, divorces seem to follow a ‘rule of three’. Amidst speculation, one thing remained clear: despite the recent acquisition of a luxurious 19th-century townhouse in Georgetown by Kennedy, assumed to be the new marital home, Hines has not abandoned her Hollywood roots.
Kennedy’s investment in the $4.34 million townhouse was thought to be attempt at keeping their marriage afloat. An insider confided to the press that Kennedy believed the shared home would rekindle and solidify their relationship. He envisioned them becoming one of the most influential couples in Washington.
Contrary to Kennedy’s hopes, Hines hasn’t taken up residence in the new home. The decision appears to revolve around her reluctant attitudes towards the nation’s capital, which she termed a ‘deadbeat town’. She is also sceptical of Kennedy’s involvement in the ultra-conservative Trump administration.
These developments contrast sharply with the media coverage leading up to Kennedy’s Senate confirmation, where Hines remained noticeably silent as he faced estrangement from most of his family. Hines also continued to support him amid allegations of an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a political reporter from New York Magazine in September.
Despite multiple reports implying Hines’ willingness to relocate to the capital after Kennedy’s appointment, she has ultimately refused to do so. Her scepticism stems from concerns that her husband can be left alone in the city, surrounded by temptation.
An insider shared on the tongues of tabloids that Hines doesn’t trust his fidelity among the attractive Washington clique and numerous admirers. As a result, she issued a stringent demand: either he moves or she does.
One source noted that Hines is prepared to trade her high-profile lifestyle for a more discreet life as the spouse of a political figure in Washington. This decision would allow her to maintain a close eye on Kennedy while living in the hip Georgetown neighbourhood.
Evidence of her intentions became apparent in February during Kennedy’s Senate confirmation hearings. Not only was Hines present, but she also relinquished control of her lifestyle and skincare brand, close in connections to QVC, rapidly after his confirmation.
At that time, speculation was rife about Hines ‘getting on board’ with Kennedy’s ambitions. However, the rumour that captures today’s imagination suggests she has no intention of standing by a man whose previous marriage was spoiled by uncontrollable ‘desire devilry’, as he once noted in his diaries.
Whether Hines had dreamt of a life in the political limelight behind her husband remains to be seen. Yet, the more recent whispers hint at her refusal to be stuck in what could be seen as a supervisory role.
Undeniably, the latest grapevine about the couple’s marital disharmony stands in stark contrast to their public front from only a few months ago. At minimum, this narrative shift elicits an anticipatory chuckle for the next episode in their saga.
It is worth noting that Hines’s decision not to relocate to Washington D.C., together with her unwillingness to become a ‘political wife’ for the Trump administration, stands in stark contrast to what appeared to be a major life change for the actress just a few months ago. However, sources also suggest she maintains a deep love and commitment to her husband, making these developments all the more fascinating to observe.
With the tangled narrative of their life unfolding, the next chapter is highly anticipated, promising a hefty dose of Hollywood drama intertwined with high-stakes political intrigue. For now, the story of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines remains an unravelled enigma, narrated through the many whispers from those close to, and within, their sphere.