In light of his alleged “personal relationship” with journalist Olivia Nuzzi, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly pleading with his wife, Cheryl Hines, to refrain from filing for divorce. An insider close to Hines informed PEOPLE that the alleged affair with the 31-year-old New York magazine reporter has caused huge embarrassment for her.
“She’s been incredibly upset about the situation, but she has a strong support system to confide in,” the source said, adding that “everyone is rallying behind her.” Currently, the 59-year-old Curb Your Enthusiasm star is contemplating legal action.
With divorce on the table, the future of their marriage hangs in the balance as both sides weigh their options
“She’s been considering divorce, while he’s desperately asking her not to go through with it,” the source explained to PEOPLE. “But how many times can someone forgive a partner who is deceitful and acts behind their back? It’s absurd behavior for a grown man who is married.” While a representative for Hines declined to comment, Kennedy’s team did not respond promptly to PEOPLE’s request for a statement.
On October 5, Hines and Kennedy were spotted together in Malibu, California. The actress was seen in the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Kennedy, and they reportedly made a stop at a Starbucks, as reported by Page Six.
Another source revealed to PEOPLE that the couple had “spent time in Los Angeles together this week,” yet “the atmosphere between them appears to be quite tense.” Additionally, “Cheryl is not wearing her wedding ring,” the source noted.
The alleged “relationship” between Kennedy and Nuzzi gained attention following New York magazine’s announcement that the journalist had been placed on leave as of September 19. The magazine’s statement indicated that Nuzzi “acknowledged” having “engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign.”
At that time, Nuzzi released a statement to PEOPLE, explaining that “the nature of some communication” between her and “a former reporting subject turned personal.” However, she clarified that she “did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source” during that period.
“The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to avoid any appearance of a conflict,” she further elaborated in her statement. “I sincerely regret not addressing it immediately and apologize to everyone I’ve let down, particularly my colleagues at New York.”
In a statement to The Washington Post, a representative for Kennedy addressed the alleged relationship, asserting that the former presidential candidate met the reporter only once for an interview related to her November 2023 article titled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Campaign.”
“Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which resulted in a hit piece,” the representative told the outlet. Hines has yet to publicly comment on her husband’s alleged affair.
