Cheryl Hines sends terse message to husband RFK Jr. after he pens heartfelt tribute to his mother Ethel following her death at 96

By James On Oct 11, 2024

Cheryl Hines has issued a brief public message of support to her grieving husband amid continued uncertainty over the state of their marriage, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The actress was one of many to respond to a lengthy statement made by Robert F Kennedy Jr. posted on Instagram following the death of his mother, Ethel, on Thursday at the age of 96.

Amid hundreds of comments, Hines’ tribute simply said: “This is beautiful. Your mother was very proud of you, ending with a white heart emoji, symbolizing support for the grieving.

Last week, Hines and Kennedy were spotted together for the first time since his alleged affair with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi left the actress shocked and blindsided, rocking the couple’s 10-year marriage.

RKF Jr. noted that his mother passed by surrounded by many of her nine children and her friends, noting that she had “taken the joy out of every moment” of her life.

Hines’ very circumspect comment has only fueled rumors that the couple has barely spoken in person in recent weeks

Kennedy wrote that his mother had “spoken longingly of the day she would be reunited with her husband.”

Members of the Kennedy family, including Ethel’s son Max and daughter Rory, began gathering at the family compound in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, prior to Ethel’s funeral.

In his post, Kennedy, 70, had praised his mother’s “rich and eventful life.” He noted that she was surrounded by many of her nine children and her friends, noting that she had “taken the joy out of every moment of her life.”

But for the past 56 years, Kennedy wrote, his mother had “talked longingly of the day when she would be reunited with her husband,” former Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, who was murdered.

But as heartfelt as her words are, considering her husband’s heartfelt outpouring, Hines’ very circumspect comment has only fueled rumors that the couple has barely spoken in person in recent weeks.

Instead of putting on a united face amid their shared grief over Ethel’s death, Hines and Kennedy have notably only posted separate responses to their social media feeds.

Writing on her own Instagram, Hines remembered her mother-in-law as a woman of “charisma, wisdom and strength.” But when she offered her love, it was not to her supposedly wayward husband, but more generally, “to the family.”

Hines said in her tribute to her late mother-in-law that her love was not with her husband, but “with the family.”

Last week, Hines and Kennedy were spotted together for the first time since his alleged phone sex affair with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi left the actress shocked and blindsided, rocking the couple’s 10-year marriage.

They were seen stopping for a quick Starbucks near the Malibu home where Nuzzi first met Kennedy when she came to interview him for an article in a New York magazine.

Hines kept her look casual, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. Her face was impossible to read behind the large dark sunglasses she wore, but the telling detail was that, as she has consistently been of late, she was ringless. However, Kennedy was wearing his ring when he was photographed by DailyMail.com in California on Thursday.

RFK Jr. and wife Cheryl Hines stopped for a quick Starbucks near their Malibu home

Hines kept her look casual, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. Her face was impossible to read behind the large dark sunglasses she wore, but she was not wearing a ring, as she has often been seen lately

Bobby Kennedy Jr. was still wearing his ring when he was photographed in Los Angeles on Thursday following the death of his mother

Ethel’s death could delay Hines’ next steps, but DailyMail.com revealed last week that close friends expect her to file for divorce.

The actress, whose relationship with Kennedy has come at significant personal cost thanks to his often outlandish views and public support of Donald Trump, was left reeling last month when it emerged that Kennedy had allegedly had a sexting affair with the 31-year-old political correspondent for New York magazine.

Kennedy claimed the two met only once when Nuzzi interviewed him in California.

The plot took another twist when Nuzzi’s ex-fiancée, DC Politico correspondent Ryan Lizza, 50, was accused of blackmailing his ex by threatening to make public compromising photos and texts she exchanged with Kennedy.

Nuzzi lost her job — at least temporarily — when she was put on administrative leave in the wake of the relationship’s exposure.

Kennedy could lose a lot more.

But for now, all the focus is on celebrating Ethel’s life, with her children and grandchildren flooding the internet with tributes and photos of a woman they paint as a force of nature and nurture.

Kerry shared many tender memories of her mother Ethel on Instagram

Ethel’s daughter Kerry, 65, posted a photo of herself with her mother sitting on a golf cart and simply captioned it, “Mama.”

“Mother’s spirit shines in our home tonight,” Kerry said on Instagram as a beautiful crimson color painted the sky

All the attention is focused on celebrating Ethel’s life, with her children and grandchildren flooding the internet with tributes and photos to a woman they portray as a force of nature and nurture.

On Thursday, Ethel’s daughter Kerry, 65, posted a photo of her Cape Cod home, sitting under a crimson and purple sky, with the caption, “Mother spirit shining on our house tonight.” Ex-husband and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, 66, responded: “Your mother is letting you know she is in heaven.”

Kerry and Cuomo’s daughter, Michaela, 27, posted her own memories of her grandmother with cute photos of Ethel with her granddaughters fooling around in a West Palm Beach pool.

In another, Ethel was dressed as a hippie John Lennon look-alike, complete with long dark wig and pink sunglasses. Elsewhere, Kerry posted a photo of herself with her mother sitting on a golf cart, captioning it simply: “Mom.”