Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s conspicuous absence from recent family celebrations has fueled speculation about his relationship status with his wife, Cheryl Hines.
The Daily Mail reported that Kennedy, 70, was noticeably missing from two significant family events, raising questions about the state of his marriage following allegations of an affair with journalist Olivia Nuzzi.
The former presidential candidate was not present at his wife Cheryl Hines' 59th birthday dinner in Milan on Saturday. Hines celebrated the occasion with her daughter Catherine Rose Young and stepdaughter Kyra LeMoyne Kennedy. On the same day, Kennedy also skipped his niece Grace Kennedy Allen's pre-wedding festivities in Massachusetts.
Adding to the speculation, Hines was spotted without her diamond wedding ring during the weekend celebrations. These absences come in the wake of reports about Kennedy's alleged affair with 31-year-old journalist Olivia Nuzzi, who has since been placed on leave by New York Magazine.
The alleged affair between Kennedy and Nuzzi has sent shockwaves through political and media circles. Nuzzi, a Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, has admitted to personal communication with a "former reporting subject" but denies any physical relationship.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Nuzzi said:
Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal. During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source. 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.
New York Magazine has placed Nuzzi on leave, citing a violation of the publication's standards regarding conflicts of interest and disclosures. The magazine is conducting an internal review of her published work and has stated that no inaccuracies or evidence of bias have been found thus far.
Kennedy's camp has insisted that he only met Nuzzi once during an interview for a feature article last year. His spokesman told CNN that the meeting resulted in a "hit piece" and maintained that there was no further contact between Kennedy and the journalist.
Despite Kennedy's absence, family celebrations continued. Cheryl Hines shared moments from her birthday on Instagram, posting a photo with her daughters captioned "Me & my girls."
The actress, known for her role in "Curb Your Enthusiasm," was dressed in a white lace turtleneck top and black pants for the occasion.
Meanwhile, Kennedy's niece Grace Kennedy Allen was seen celebrating her upcoming nuptials with family members in Hyannis Harbor. Photographs published by Page Six show Allen and other Kennedy family members diving into the water during a rainstorm as part of the pre-wedding festivities.
These public appearances and celebrations stand in stark contrast to Kennedy's noticeable absence, further fueling rumors about the state of his marriage and personal life.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s absence from recent family events has sparked rumors about his marriage to Cheryl Hines. These speculations come in the wake of an alleged affair with journalist Olivia Nuzzi, who has been placed on leave by New York Magazine. As the story continues to unfold, it highlights the ongoing public interest in the Kennedy family and raises questions about the boundaries between personal relationships and professional ethics in political journalism.
