Cheryl Hines Struggles To Defend Husband RFK Jr. On ‘The View’
Cheryl Hines faced tough questions about her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during her appearance on ‘The View,’ despite expecting to discuss her upcoming memoir, ‘Unscripted.’
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The ex-fiancé of Olivia Nuzzi, the journalist who allegedly had a sexting scandal with Robert Kennedy Jr., has accused Nuzzi of having an affair with former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford while he was vying for the 2020 Republican presidential nomination.
Ryan Lizza’s account, published in a Nov. 17 Substack post titled “Part 1: How I Found Out, came just days after Nuzzi was profiled by The New York Times. The Times article delved into the details of the RFK Jr. scandal. And an excerpt from “American Canto,” Nuzzi’s forthcoming tell-all, was also published in Vanity Fair on Nov. 17. RFK Jr.’s wife, Cheryl Hines, recently addressed the supposed scandal in her memoir, as recapped by People.
The situation is messy — and the internet is tuned in.
“We should all know more,” one reader quipped on X.
“You’re gonna wanna read this piece by Ryan Lizza about his relationship with Olivia Nuzzi immediately before the insane twist gets spoiled for you,” another posted.
Relationship therapists and media experts say we can all learn a lesson from the influx of perspectives, such as when it’s appropriate to take the narrative into your own hands, and how sharing the details about a relationship can be both healing and harmful.
“Sharing your version of events can be empowering as it may help you feel more in control of the narrative,” says Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.”
There are also financial motivators to “tell-alls,” explains Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University.
“We exist in a literary climate where memoirs detailing the alleged transgressions of political figures are highly lucrative for authors, especially when they are laced with disgraceful affairs, heartbreak tales, and forms of professional and personal misconduct,” he says.
But Morin warns of potential downsides.
“You don’t have control over how the information is received either, and you will likely open the door to public scrutiny,” she says.
When to go public with relationship secrets
Sharing your side of an affair, relationship fallout or scandal can provide a sense of relief. If you’re able to explain certain events or clear up misunderstandings, you may be able to take some control over your reputation, Morin explains.
But without emotional support, it can also “open some old wounds” and leave you feeling “even more isolated.” It can also affect your personal relationships, especially with those involved.
“If their names are mentioned or they’re part of your story, they may feel violated that their information is public,” Morin says. “Other people may not trust you moving forward for fear their information will also be released.”
Until you put out the story, the potential social, financial or legal consequences are unknown. But once you do, there’s no going back.
In the digital age, discourse can grow beyond the story
Robert J. Thompson, a professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University, says the “old rule of thumb” was that it was best to tell your own story before others told it for you. Twenty years ago, there was less access to each reiteration of a scandal or life story — you could go on Oprah or write a memoir that people would maybe purchase. Now, blogs, TikTok story times, and countless social media platforms are accessible with just a couple of clicks.
“This particular story has a whole cast of characters weighing in,” Thompson says of Nuzzi’s alleged entanglements. “Each version affects the wellness of each character in different ways.”
Williams adds that Nuzzi’s use of a memoir to disclose and profit from “private information about a political luminary” is “not revolutionary, but rather a continuation of existing trends.”
A confessional may make sense to share publicly if you’re “looking to inspire others” or “hoping to advocate for change,” Morin concludes, but not if you are “only sharing to get revenge or to try and ‘win’ something by sharing your side.”
Either way, be prepared for scrutiny.
