Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines have been together for more than three years. They got engaged in May 2014 and married (at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport) in August 2014. Cheryl and Robert just celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Cheryl is Robert’s third wife, and the man has a pretty tortured romantic history. For as long as they’ve been together, there were always rumors about Robert’s wandering eye. Just after they announced their engagement, the Enquirer did a big spread (which I believed) about Robert fooling around with at least one married woman close to his home in Connecticut. And now Page Six says that Cheryl went into this marriage with her eyes wide open, which I guess means that she accepts that he has always fooled around and always will fool around?
Even close friends of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notorious cheater who had numerous affairs while with past wives Emily Black and Mary Richardson, think his new wife, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Cheryl Hines, was crazy to marry him and think he’d be faithful.
In Jerry Oppenheimer’s new book, “RFK Jr.: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Dark Side of the Dream,” out Sept. 22 from St. Martin’s Press, a decades-long friend of Kennedy and a guest at his August 2014 wedding “was mystified as to why Hines married Bob, since his history as a womanizer had become so public and was intertwined in scandal.”
“Any woman who gets involved with Bobby does so with her eyes open, or their brains lopped off,” said the so-called friend. “Any woman who thinks they’re going to change Bobby is misguided and purposefully ignorant. Women have to understand what they’re getting into when they’re with him.” The friend continued, “You can hate it, you can make excuses for it, you can do whatever you want to do, it doesn’t change the fact that he has a long history of doing certain things. And if you think, ‘Wow, I’ll be different,’ then you’re [bleep].”
RFK Jr.’s wild womanizing was chronicled in The Post last year when we exposed diaries he used to keep track of his affairs. But, writes Oppenheimer, Hines’ co-star Larry David told Kennedy, “Nothing you do will ever rattle her.”
Robert’s second wife, Mary, committed suicide by hanging in May 2012. Oppenheimer, whose book will be released by St. Martin’s on Sept. 22, talked to sources who said Mary was not surprised by Robert’s womanizing, but his romance with Cheryl shocked her.
“It was a shocker because Mary claimed she had introduced Hines to Bobby at a charity event, although Bobby and Hines asserted that . . . Larry David had brought about the introduction,” says the book. “Still, Mary felt ‘very betrayed’ by what she termed the ‘Sisterhood’ . . . women sticking together, women supporting one another.”
Just two months before Robert and Hines tied the knot, reports surfaced that he’d cheated on her with socialite Chelsea Chapman Kirwan.
First of all, this book sounds like a total hit job. To be fair though, it really doesn’t seem like Robert is being A) discreet or B) discriminating. He’ll sleep with anyone (allegedly). It’s almost like a compulsion. Which brings me to the larger point: why would any woman want that, especially with a dude who doesn’t really have any particular power? You know what I mean? I can understand the cachet of “being married to a Kennedy” when it’s a Kennedy with some power, some swag, some real authority. But RFK Jr is just an environmental activist with a famous name and a wandering eye. Is the Kennedy name still so powerful that it’s worth this price? As for Cheryl and the late Mary Kennedy’s issues with “the sisterhood”… I don’t know. I don’t think Cheryl was any better or any worse than all of the other women Robert has slept with over the years.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Whats s in a name..
Or maybe…I dunno, she loves him?
Add me to that list.
She could have done so much better.
Bobby was/is a drug addict. His preferred drug in the past 30 years is sex. I can’t imagine why Cheryl would get mixed up with him. She must be very insecure.
His cousins Chris Lawford and Patrick Kennedy, and other Kennedys, have gone through successful recovery programs. Bobby refuses to. It isn’t just about having affairs, it’s about his mental health, imo.
Robert Jr have many issues besides drugs and sex, like a rest of that family. Hines went into relationship with open eyes and perhaps just last name Kennedy did something for her. There were and still are, many women lined up for him waiting to be next wife so she went for at. Also, she was introduced to him by his ex wife, who we know committed suicide. Just saying..
Shady behaviour often gets overlooked if one has a lot of money, prestige & material assets.
Plus a last name that she may have found enticing for whatever reason (1960s nostalgia?).
And in truth – the “nostalgia” is felt for his father and uncles who were doing the exact same thing as he was back in those “good old days.”
Exactly…to be a Kennedy. Which many in the 60s considered American Royalty
To add to Snappyfish – the Kennedy family will forever be seen as American royalty. Even if the future generations do absolutely nothing of substance, besides abusing it. An assassinated President will always live in the hearts of our country, along with the glamour and power JFK and Jackie carried with them. It lives on in the following generations.. So..any druggie, cheating Kennedy scoundrel will have his indiscretions overlooked. Simple as that.
His father and his uncle are still beloved; those Kennedy kids know it and still trade on it. A few years ago, RFK’s daughter Kerry got arrested for a DUI. (Kerry used to be married to Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of NY, but they divorced because she cheated on him IIRC.) I think she was on Ambien. Anyway, she cried about her “Daddy” at the trial and the jury sympathized and she skated.
http://nypost.com/2014/02/26/kerry-kennedy-takes-stand-in-drugged-driving-trial/
If she is OK with it, then whatever.
Even though I’m not sure any one person may have pushed Mary over the edge, it probably didn’t help matters that the new woman (CH) was posting happy little boyfriend/family photos to social media in the weeks leading up to Mary’s death. I still side eye Cheryl for doing that (and obviously Bobby for being a participant).
THIS.
I’m loathe to point the finger for a suicide but in this case its totally justified. I’m glad their marriage is sh*t and I can only hope they have been plagued with all manner of venereal disease! Mary was in a fragile state and given the fact that Robert was using her condition to obtain full custody, he cant claim to have been ignorant of it. Instead, he allowed his mistress to repeatedly tweet pics of Marys kids at soccer matches etc (yes, another Leann here but worse given that she was facing an uphill battle for custody).
And then there was the issolation tactic; he didnt just take Cheryl to social events within their circle, he took her to parties hosted by Marys friends, one of whom was Glenn Close. And because Cheryl is the classic middle aged Single White Female, she tweets a pic of herself at Glens bash with Glen and afew other of Marys bffs. Its no stretch to assume they were actively trying to antagonise a woman they knew to be vulnerable, withdrawn and slightly paranoid. She killed herself shortly after that.
I didn’t know any of this. Thanks for a very informative post, Chichi.
I don’t know if you can blame them, but collectively, they sound like shitty people.
The person who commits suicide is the person responsible for the suicide. Having said that, I agree with Kiddo that these two sound like they deserve each other and whatever STDs he brings home.
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time the Kennedy name was linked to a woman’s death–cough–Mary Jo Kopechne–cough…
While I agree RFKjr. and Cheryl Hines are shitty people, let’s not forget that Mary cheated with RFKjr. while he was married to his first wife, got pregnant and married him three weeks after his divorce. I don’t see a lot of consideration for ‘sisterhood’ in that situation or does it only count if you are acquainted with the OW?
There were also claims that she was struggling financially (more or less cut off).
Plus, there was the funeral and re-burial in the SAME cemetery. She was buried, then moved to another section. That seemed incredibly weird.
Oh yeah I read how Mary and RJK Jr hooked up. How you get them is how you lose them!
Obviously, marrying into the Kennedy family and having that name, was more important to her than her dignity. I’ll never understand people who willingly marry serial cheaters.
Deanne: I agree, but… If only it was just the cheating… I knew nothing of this fella’s recent history, so thanks, Chichi for the information. His vindictive and utterly sickening behaviour towards his late wife and, yes, by default, even his children, illustrates what a repugnant creature he is. And that his current wife brazenly rubbed salt in to Mary’s wounds is reprehensible. For sure, this is a perfectly-matched pair. Let’s see how she feels and reacts when his vile actions are directed at her… No decency. No decorum. No morals. No remorse. No good.
We don’t know the REAL reason she married him. We can only guess it was for his name but it could be for many other reasons.
Kennedy is pretty much synonymous with wandering dong at this point. It’s like in Clueless, except Kennedy instead of Baldwin. “My ex slept with his secretary and the nanny. He was a total Kennedy.”
She seems like a weird pick for him, as well. Unless there is some kind of pedigree, but I don’t know much about her. She played a pretty bland character on Larry David’s show and a super annoying one in that Suburbia one, forget the name. Maybe she was drawn in by his politics or wanted a quick retirement from acting, don’t know, don’t care.
I’m voting early retirement from having to chase down new jobs.
His first wife was a fellow law student who didn’t seem to have a big pedigree. Maybe he isn’t as picky about that aspect.
I think Cheryl took one of his daughters under her wing to help with her acting aspirations and did some environmental charity appearances. Those things plus the blind eye probably sealed the deal.
Easy. In no particular order:
Wealth
Power
Prestige
Influence
It’s like being a member of the most exclusive country club in the world. Same reason women marry royalty. A Kennedy is just easier to come by than a prince.
Yep. Some women care much, much more about one or all of those things than they do fidelity.
So true. Sad, but so true.
I wonder if Robert has an account on Ashley Madison?
They really don’t need to. They can just walk up to women and say ” well?”
He wouldn’t need one. There are PLENTY of woman ready and willing to do the deed with him – he doesn’t need to peruse a website. I know it’s hard for some of you to understand, but the Kennedy name is still pretty big in certain circles. Also, there is something very disarming and very very charming about the Kennedy men, believe me, I know. I’ve met a few in my time.
A friend told me she was watching a road race/marathon years ago and women runners were jumping out of the race to hug/speak to Ted Kennedy. Actually disqualifying themselves to get to Ted.
@Boston Green Eyes
Whispers:
*I would have happily dropped ’em for JFK, JFK Jr and Anthony Shriver!*
Whispers back: I would have done ANYTHING for JFK, Jr!
RFK Jr is shady AF. There’s a reason Mary’s family has hired their own investigators to look into her death. Cheryl willingly went along with Bob’s gas lighting and in my eyes she’s just as responsible as he is.
Maybe Cheryl wants to be a society wife. Kennedy name means you are invited to galas to the changing of some newborns diaper.
I believe that Cheryl is probably the best suited to be a Kennedy wife due to her experience in Hollywood. She’s probably seen it ALL from that vantage point – cheating husbands and wives, closeted people, drugs, money, you name it. And just like a true Hollywood wife, she’ll give everything a pass, as long as Bob remains discreet.
Maybe she finds him intelligent, charming, interesting, funny, likes the fact that he’s rich, a Kennedy and she’s in love with him?
She knows who he is and presumably accepts him so there’s no issue. Why wouldn’t she marry him? She has had a lot of plastic surgery and is of a certain age where there are very few men with money prepared to settle for her when they can pick a younger model. The fact that he picked a woman close to his own age suggests that it’s a marriage based on friendship and love.
We all have our own standards, sexual fidelity isn’t a requirement for everyone, especially if a partner ticks every other box.
If the groom’s friends actually comment that they don’t understand why she’s marrying him, that’s a pretty bad sign.
Seriously? No one knows why?
SHE WANTED TO BE A KENNEDY.
Duh.
Teacher! Teacher! I know! Call on me! 🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋
Yep.
Well, nine times out of ten I really don’t understand why a woman marries a particular man.
Hahahaha! Truth.
I always wonder who buys these books? What could be in them that hasn’t been in Page 6,etc for years? I just hope for her health’s sake she gets regularly screened for STDs. Re the deceased second wife- she clearly had mental health issues, but didn’t she cheat with this guy while he was married to wife #1? If true, why put that “sisterhood” quote in there?
didn’t she cheat with this guy while he was married to wife #1?
She did indeed and married him three weeks after his divorce from his first wife and was pregnant.
A lot of rich/famous/influential men are serial cheaters. Nothing new there, especially in the Kennedy family. Hines probably just enjoys the perks – Remember, she has a child from a previous marriage. Maybe monogamy isn’t right for her either? Anyway she is probably mature enough to know and handle what she got into.
Honestly not hating here. If I wanted to be a Kennedy I’d take the low hanging fruit too.
Men like him, who compulsively have sex with different women to the extent he did, never change. She knew it going in, especially with the incident that happened right before the wedding. At her age, I have no sympathy for her. She loves him and wanted to marry him, so is turning a blind eye to the fact that he will cheat on her at points during the marriage. She’s an adult and made the decision. She doesn’t need sympathy.
Unless he’s in deep therapy for it, which I doubt since he was outed right before the marriage, nothing will change. He has probably just slowed down somewhat. LOL
His alleged diary / journal excerpts that were published suggest there is some type of compulsion.
She had several opportunities to know exactly what she’s getting, that is for sure.
moneymoneymoneymoneyyyy!
I could see dropping it for JFK Jr., or someone like THAT……but RFK Jr??? Good Lord. Not in a thousand years……
Ahh, JFK Jr — my longtime, middle school and beyond crush.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. There’s your reason.
Cheryl Hines is so pretty.
I once attended a small-ish conference where RFK j was the keynote. My then-husband and I were monogamous, but I only slightly facetiously asked t-h if I could sleep with RFKj. T-h said, “go for it! It will make such a good story.” Pretty funny.
After his talk, RFK j was whisked away. So much for my good story. At least I didn’t catch any diseases.
He is such a meathead. Toothy meathead. No thanks, not even with money and power.
Met him at a conference once where he was our keynote speaker. Presents himself as a common-man, no hoard of staffers and fart-catchers….but OMG if anything screws up despite his lack of staff, all hell breaks loose. I had to wait for an hour policing 3 elevators because we’d not been told when he was due to arrive or which elevator in a huge hotel he’d be using. He was booked on a flight home next day from Toronto at rush hour with only an hour to make his flight so he was clearly going to miss it. Screamed at me and some other colleagues like it was our fault. Very arrogant and demanding despite his deliberate lack of support staff. It’s part of his carefully contrived public persona – “I’m just like all you regular people” but he’s not.