Before she married into one of America’s most famous families, Cheryl Hines endured a difficult divorce. Could be headed that way again?
Cheryl, of course, is a longtime veteran of Hollywood who’s best known for her work on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Since 2014, she has been the wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial politician who is currently running for president as an independent candidate.
That soon may change, as could their marital status, as RFK Jr. himself has suggested that a separation might be in the best interest of Cheryl’s public image.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s start with the fact that, if Cheryl is headed for a divorce, she knows how to navigate it.
Cheryl Hines’ Divorce: Her First Marriage to Paul Young Ended Rather Quickly
In 2002 Cheryl married talent agent Paul Young. While Cheryl often refers to Larry David as her “first husband” because of their TV marriage, Paul is the first man she legally married.
Their time together was a happy one, The two welcomed a daughter, Catherine Rose Young was born in 2004. All seemed well.
Then, in 2010, after eight years of marriage, Cheryl and Paul amicably decided to call it quits. The reason was never given, but they assured their fans that they’d be pals moving forward.
“They will remain extremely close friends and will raise their daughter together,” reps for the former couple said in a statement.
And they were true to their word. Paul ended up serving as producer on Hines’ new show, This Close.
And if that weren’t enough, Paul, along with Larry and RFK JR. were all front row when Cheryl got a star on Hollywood Boulevard in 2014.
So, not a messy divorce by any means.
Cheryl’s Relationship With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: How It Began
In December of 2011, Cheryl’s Curb co-star Larry David introduced her to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was then working as an environmental lawyer.
The couple announced their engagement in April of 2014, and they married in August of the same year.
By all accounts, their marriage is a happy and healthy one. But being married to a man who’s known for courting controversy has presented some challenges for Cheryl.
and Cheryl Hines attend the 2018 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ Ripple Of Hope Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 12, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/WireImage)
A Separation From RFK Jr. Was On The Table To ‘Protect’ Her
For example, in 2022, when Kennedy made a statement comparing CDC vaccine mandates to the policies of Nazi Germany, Cheryl spoke out against the remark.
“My husband’s opinions are not a reflection of my own. While we love each other, we differ on many current issues…” she tweeted.
“The atrocities that millions endured during the Holocaust should never be compared to anyone or anything. His opinions are not a reflection of my own.”
The backlash over Kennedy’s comments was so severe that he suggested a fake separation in order to protect Cheryl’s career.
“I saw how it was affecting her life, and I said to her, ‘We should just announce that we are separated,’ so that you can have some distance from me,” RFK Jr. told The New York Times (via Variety).
“We wouldn’t really be doing anything, we would just — I felt so desperate about protecting her at a time where my statements and my decisions were impacting her.”
The couple decided that such drastic action would not be necessary, and they remain happily married.
It seems unlikely that Cheryl will ever become First Lady of the United States, but she appears to have no regrets about the pot-stirring firebrand she chose as her partner.
