Cheryl Hines puts aside marriage woes to pay respect to Ethel Kennedy as RFK Jr. spotted for first time since his mother’s death

Cheryl Hines broke her silence amid rumors of marital problems with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his affair with reporter Olivia Nuzzi to post a solemn remembrance of Kennedy’s mother Ethel.

Ethel Kennedy, matriarch of the Kennedy dynasty and widow of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, died earlier Thursday at the age of 96 after suffering a stroke.

Hines was spotted wearing her wedding ring on Sunday, despite swirling rumors that she is preparing to divorce her supposedly philandering husband after it was revealed that Nuzzi and RFK Jr. had a sexting relationship.

She made no mention of it, but did mention her husband when she posted a tribute to her mother-in-law Ethel on Thursday.

“My mother-in-law, Ethel Kennedy, Bobby’s mother, passed away this morning. It has been a great honor for me to have shared laughter and love with Ethel,” she captioned a photo of Ethel with her husband’s father and former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr.

‘Her charisma, wisdom and strength will live on in every memory of her. Bobby and I spent many warm nights in Hyannis Port, eating with her and hearing stories of her extraordinary life,” Hines continued.

‘She always made me laugh. She was never too serious, except when necessary. She dressed to the nines with bare feet. She will be missed. My love lies with the family.’

DailyMail.com spotted RFK Jr. California stepping out of a car on Thursday, wearing a button-up shirt, jeans and glasses.

Kennedy posted his own tribute to his beloved mother on social media later Thursday.

“She took joy from every moment, but for 56 years she longed for the day when she would be reunited with her beloved husband,” he wrote.

“She is now with him, with my brothers David and Michael, with her parents, her six siblings, all of whom predeceased her, and her ‘adopted’ Kennedy siblings Jack, Kick, Joe, Teddy, Eunice , Jean, Rosemary and Patricia.’

His last words about his mother: ‘I appreciate her for all my virtues. I am grateful for her generosity in overlooking my mistakes.”

Last week, Hines and RFK Jr. were drinking. coffee together, despite reports that the two have barely spoken in the past two weeks since reports surfaced about his alleged affair with Nuzzi.

The sighting came after DailyMail.com revealed that close friends expect Hines to file for divorce amid the unfolding controversy.

Late last month, Nuzzi, 31, the top Washington DC political correspondent for New York magazine, acknowledged having a sexting relationship with the 70-year-old Kennedy while covering his campaign.

Kennedy, who suspended his independent bid for the presidency and threw his support behind Donald Trump in August, claimed the two had met only once when Nuzzi interviewed him for the magazine.

Nuzzi’s ex-fiance Ryan Lizza is reportedly taking a ‘leave of absence’ after a court bombshell claimed he blackmailed her over her rumored affair.

Nuzzi alleged in D.C. Supreme Court that Lizza “explicitly threatened to disclose personal information about me to destroy my life, career and reputation – a threat he has since carried out.”

Lizza will take a leave of absence from his job at Politico by mutual consent.

It comes as the Kennedy family grieves over the death of one of the last surviving links from the “Camelot” era of JFK’s presidency.

Ethel, the sister-in-law of the late President John F. Kennedy, had suffered a stroke in her sleep last week and was rushed to the hospital.

The third of her eleven children – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – ran a high-profile campaign for president as an independent candidate in 2024 before endorsing Donald Trump in August.

His campaign and his views on vaccines led to divisions within the Kennedy clan. Some other members denounced him and supported the Democratic candidate.

However, Ethel Kennedy has never publicly commented on her son’s actions.

Ethel Kennedy was widowed at the age of 40 when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.

She was at her husband’s side when he was fatally shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, just after winning California’s Democratic presidential primary.

She was pregnant with their youngest child at the time.

It was part of a series of devastating tragedies for her family.

Ethel’s brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, had been assassinated in Dallas less than five years earlier.

Her parents died in a plane crash in 1955, and her brother died in a plane crash in 1966. Her son David Kennedy later died of a drug overdose, son Michael Kennedy in a skiing accident, and nephew John F. Kennedy Jr. in a plane crash.

After her husband’s murder, she never remarried and devoted the rest of her life to philanthropy and issues such as gun control.

She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and worked tirelessly for world peace.

She spent her summers on Cape Cod at the legendary family compound in Hyannis Port, but largely stayed out of public life.

Her death was announced by former Rep. Joe Kennedy III – a grandchild – who now serves as US special envoy to Northern Ireland under President Joe Biden.

“It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our wonderful grandmother, Ethel Kennedy,” Joe Kennedy said on X. “She passed away this morning from complications related to a stroke she suffered last week.”

“In addition to a lifetime of work in social justice and human rights, our mother is survived by nine children, 34 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly,” he said.

“She was a devout Catholic and a daily communicant, and we are comforted to know that she has been reunited with the love of her life, our father, Robert F. Kennedy; her children David and Michael; her daughter-in-law Mary; her grandchildren Maeve and Saoirse; and her great-grandchildren Gideon and Josie,” Joe Kennedy said. “Please keep her in your hearts and prayers.”