Hines and RFK Jr. seen hand-in-hand amid affair allegations and marriage troubles.
Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were seen walking hand-in-hand at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, just days after the death of Kennedy’s mother, Ethel Kennedy.
This public appearance comes nearly a month after reports surfaced about an alleged personal relationship between Kennedy, 70, and Olivia Nuzzi, a journalist for New York Magazine.
In photos obtained by The Daily Mail, Kennedy and Hines, 59, were spotted together on Saturday, Oct. 12, walking around the Kennedy estate.
The couple, who have been married since 2014, were seen engaging in casual activities, including visiting a local gym and grocery store. At one point, Hines was photographed with her hand resting on Kennedy’s shoulder. Notably, Kennedy was not wearing his wedding ring, though Hines was still wearing hers.
The pair’s public outing follows a difficult week for the Kennedy family. Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of the family and widow of Robert F.
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Kennedy, passed away on Oct. 10 at the age of 96. Kennedy paid tribute to his mother in a heartfelt post shared on X (formerly Twitter), calling her a “role model” and reflecting on her enduring strength and love for her family.
“My mother invented tough love,” Kennedy wrote. “She could be hard on her children when we didn’t live up to her expectations. But she was also intensely loyal, and we always knew that she would stand fiercely behind us when we came under attack by others.”
He added, “I credit her for all my virtues. I’m grateful for her generosity in overlooking my faults.” Hines responded to the tribute, commenting, “This is beautiful. Your mother was very proud of you.”
The couple’s public display of affection comes amid reports of a strain in their marriage following Kennedy’s alleged personal relationship with journalist Olivia Nuzzi.
The allegations first surfaced on Sept. 19, when New York Magazine announced that Nuzzi had been placed on leave after acknowledging a “personal relationship” with a former subject relevant to the 2024 presidential campaign.
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Nuzzi later confirmed the nature of some communication between herself and a former reporting subject had turned personal, though she clarified that the relationship was not physical.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Nuzzi expressed regret for not disclosing the relationship sooner, saying, “The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”
Kennedy has denied any significant relationship with Nuzzi, with a representative telling The Washington Post that he met the journalist only once for a story in November 2023 regarding his presidential campaign.
The public’s first sighting of Hines and Kennedy together since the rumors broke came on Oct. 5 in Malibu, California, where they were photographed in a car after stopping at a Starbucks. At the time, reports indicated that Hines was not wearing her wedding ring, which fueled speculation about the state of their marriage.
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A source close to Hines told PEOPLE earlier in October that she was considering filing for divorce, but that Kennedy was “begging her not to file.” Neither Hines nor Kennedy has publicly commented on the state of their marriage or the rumors surrounding the alleged relationship with Nuzzi.
Hines, who recently attended Paris and Milan Fashion Week, has largely kept a low profile when it comes to addressing her husband’s political activities and personal controversies. The actress has not publicly addressed the alleged extramarital relationship or the reports of a possible divorce.
For now, the couple appears to be standing together, at least in public, as they navigate both personal and public challenges. With Kennedy’s recent withdrawal from the presidential race and the loss of his mother, the coming weeks may reveal more about the couple’s future. Representatives for both Hines and Kennedy have not responded to requests for comment.
