Cheryl Hines Spotted Without Wedding Ring amid News of Husband RFK Jr.’s Alleged ‘Personal Relationship’ with Reporter

Mar. 15, 2025

Cheryl Hines and husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in January 2024.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

The day after news broke ofRobert F. Kennedy Jr.’s alleged“personal relationship”with campaign reporterOlivia Nuzzi, the politician’s wife,Cheryl Hines, was spotted in Milan without her wedding ring on.

For her solo outing, Hines wore a satin top, trousers and leather jacket, without one of her staple accessories — the sparkling band she normally wears on her left ring finger.

The outing came ahead of Hines’ birthday on Saturday, Sept. 21, which shedocumented on her Instagram Storieswith Kennedy, 70, noticeably absent.

Cheryl Hines wearing her wedding ring prior to husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s scandal on Sept. 15.Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

On Thursday, Sept. 19, news of the former presidential candidate’s alleged “personal relationship” with Nuzzi made headlines afterNew Yorkmagazineshared a note to readers revealing that it put her on leave.

The note stated that Nuzzi, 31, was placed on leave after she “engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign,” with a source with knowledge on the incident tellingCNNthat Nuzzi was linked to Kennedy.

It also stated that the relationship was “a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures” and, if the magazine had been aware of it, Nuzzi “would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign.”

At the time, Nuzzi shared in a statement to PEOPLE that “the nature of some communication” between herself and “a former reporting subject turned personal,” but she added that she “did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source” during that period.

Olivia Nuzzi in April 2023.Paul Morigi/Getty

Paul Morigi/Getty

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“The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict,” she stated. “I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues atNew York.”

Meanwhile, a representative for Kennedy — whodropped out of the 2024 presidential racein August — addressed the alleged relationship in a statement toThe Washington Post.

The rep said Kennedy only met theNew Yorkreporter one time for herNovember 2023 storytitled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Campaign.”

“Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece,” the rep toldThe Washington Post.

PEOPLE has reached out to Hines and Kennedy for comment.

source: people.com