‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Star Cheryl Hines Addresses Husband RFK Jr’s Cheating Controversy With a Female Journalist

A media firestorm, private heartbreak, and political fallout collide as a Hollywood star speaks out about the rumors that rocked her marriage and shook a high-stakes presidential campaign.

Cheryl Hines has finally broken her silence on the explosive controversy engulfing her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and political reporter Olivia Nuzzi, whose alleged entanglement with the 2024 presidential hopeful led to her shocking suspension from New York magazine.

Olivia Nuzzi attends Vox Media’s Code Conference – Day 2 on September 7, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Hines Reflects on the Chaos of Kennedy’s Campaign

The beloved actor, best known for her role on the Emmy-winning comedy “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” opened up during an appearance on the “Katie Miller Pod,“ revealing how the relentless media storm unfolded during what was already an emotionally exhausting chapter in her life.

“Bobby had been running for president, and it was an exhausting year and a half of headlines and rumors and articles and chaos,” Hines admitted. “And at that time, I thought, ‘Okay, this is more chaos and more rumors.’ And, um, it was a lot. It was coming up on the heels of everything else.“

Hines Reveals How She Decided What to Ignore

Pressed on how she managed the unrelenting wave of speculation, Hines shared her deeply personal process — one that starts with media scrutiny and ends in private trust.

“I think you always have to consider the source, right? So, that’s where I start,” she said. “And then it ends with a conversation with Bobby. So, getting to the truth of the matter, and then that’s where it ends.“

Magazine Found No Bias, but a Policy Was Breached

The scandal exploded publicly in September 2024, when New York magazine dropped a bombshell: Olivia Nuzzi, one of its star political writers, had admitted to a personal relationship with a subject tied to the 2024 presidential campaign — a stunning breach of journalistic ethics.

Olivia Nuzzi attends Pivot MIA at 1 Hotel South Beach on February 16, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

According to the magazine, “Recently our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi acknowledged to the magazine’s editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures.“

Olivia Nuzzi and Sam Feist attend CAA Kickoff Party for the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend, in partnership with A Starting Point (ASP) and CLEAR on April 29, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Though a swift internal review revealed no bias or factual errors in Nuzzi’s coverage, the magazine made its stance clear, stating, “Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign.” She was placed on leave, and an external review was launched.

Olivia Nuzzi, Meredith McGraw, Kaitlan Collins, and Poppy Harlow attend A Glamorous 100th Anniversary with Glamour and Hamilton Hotel on October 11, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Kennedy Denies Relationship Characterization

Kennedy, through a spokesperson, offered a forceful denial, downplaying the relationship entirely. He told CNN, “Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.“

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign rally for Donald Trump on November 1, 2024 | Source: Getty Images

Nuzzi, however, offered a startling clarification — calling the relationship “emotional and digital” rather than physical. “Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal… The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict,” she said.

Olivia Nuzzi attends Vox Media’s Code Conference – Day 2 on September 7, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Timing of Scandal Coincided with a Personal Loss

As headlines exploded, Hines was facing something far more painful behind the scenes — a devastating family loss that reshaped her view of the unfolding drama.

“I had just lost my nephew. I just lost my nephew, so that was really what’s important in life,” she revealed during her recent interview.

“So, you have a real loss and a real situation — and a real family situation. And then to have a story was distracting at best, but also, in the scheme of what’s real, what’s not, what’s important, what’s not, it was not ranking up in the ‘this is what’s important in life’ category,” she explained.

Hines Questions the Intentions Behind Coverage

Asked about Nuzzi’s continued media involvement — including reports of a forthcoming book — Hines responded with poise, but her words carried weight.

“I have no idea. I don’t know this person. Don’t know their intentions. I could guess, but I won’t — but you can if you want. But I don’t know,” said Hines.

While she avoided naming Nuzzi directly, Hines seemed to question the motivations behind the coverage. “There are people that really want to be involved in the conversation. They want to be a part of it,” she stated.

She continued, “They spend a lot of time figuring out how to write something that’s going to get people’s attention. And if they do, then they are really celebrating, you know, and whether it’s true or false doesn’t matter. If it gets people’s attention, it’s a celebration. It’s a success for them.“

Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attend the premiere of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Season 12 at Directors Guild Of America on January 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

The Timeline of the Relationship Adds Complications

According to New York magazine editor David Haskell, the publication was informed in September 2024 that the relationship between Nuzzi and her subject had reportedly begun in December 2023 — just after her profile on Kennedy ran — and ended in August 2024.

Olivia Nuzzi and Kaitlan Collins attend A Glamorous 100th Anniversary with Glamour and Hamilton Hotel on October 11, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

In a separate statement to CNN, Nuzzi confessed, “During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source… I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.“

Ryan Lizza, Olivia Nuzzi, and Oliver Stone attends the screening of “Nuclear Now” on May 1, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

Even in the absence of overt bias, Haskell admitted that Nuzzi had “created at the very least the appearance of a conflict” and by failing to disclose it, “had violated our policies and potentially damaged our readers’ trust.“

Olivia Nuzzi attends the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 29, 2023 in Washington, DC | Source: Getty Images

Marriage Reportedly Strained in the Wake of Allegations

Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza attend the CBS News White House Correspondents’ Dinner after party on April 29, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

Sources close to the couple say the aftermath rocked their marriage. According to People, as of early October 2024, the two “have barely spoken” in the weeks following the story. “She’s embarrassed because he got caught,” one insider claimed, adding that Hines quietly left the country soon after.

Hines Steps Back Into the Spotlight

Despite the swirling controversy, Hines was soon seen at several high-profile international events. On September 21, 2024 — just two days after the public statement from New York magazine — she appeared at Milan Fashion Week, attending the Gucci runway show with her daughter, Catherine Young.

She also publicly supported Kyra Kennedy, her stepdaughter, who was among the models. Days earlier, before the media frenzy erupted, Hines was seen in good spirits at the HBO/Max Primetime Emmy Awards afterparty in Los Angeles, joining her “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star Jeff Garlin at their show’s table. At that point, she had made no public comment about the scandal.

Now, with her latest interview, Hines has pulled back the curtain on a year marred by rumors, grief, and emotional turmoil. Her decision to speak out offers a rare, candid glimpse into how she handled the headlines — choosing family, truth, and resilience over chaos.