Imagine being caught in a political firestorm so intense that your spouse suggests faking a split just to shield you from the heat. That’s the reality Cheryl Hines, the accomplished actress from HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” faced during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign, as revealed in her upcoming memoir.
Fox News reported that Hines’ book “Unscripted,” due out on Nov. 11, 2025, lays bare the personal toll of standing by Kennedy—affectionately called “Bobby”—amid public backlash, security threats, and emotional upheavals during his bid for office.
Married to Kennedy since 2014, Hines, now 60, has built a career on wit and charm, playing Larry David’s on-screen wife with razor-sharp timing.
But off-screen, her role as Bobby’s real-life partner thrust her into a spotlight far harsher than Hollywood’s klieg lights. The progressive crowd, often quick to cancel anyone near a controversial figure, turned their ire on her simply for being his wife.
During the campaign, the criticism became so fierce that Kennedy floated a peculiar idea: announce a fake separation to spare Hines the vitriol.
It’s a move straight out of a political drama script, but Hines saw through the absurdity of pretending to part ways just to appease the outrage mob. Clearly, she wasn’t buying into the left’s playbook of performative virtue.
“In my book, ‘Unscripted,’ I talk about this because things got … dramatic during this presidential campaign,” Hines writes. “Some people were very upset that I was even married to Bobby.”
She adds, “Bobby felt like, ‘You shouldn’t be having to take that heat. So why don’t we just say we’re separated?'" Call it a noble gesture, but it reeks of surrendering to the woke pressure cooker—something Hines wisely rejected, choosing instead to stand firm with her husband.
Beyond the public scrutiny, Hines grappled with raw fear for Kennedy’s safety, a concern rooted in the tragic Kennedy family history. With his uncle John F. Kennedy and father Robert F. Kennedy both assassinated, the specter of violence loomed large. Every rally, every public appearance, carried a weight heavier than any red-carpet event.
That fear wasn’t abstract—it materialized in chilling moments like a security breach at their home, where Hines witnessed an intruder in their backyard at 10 a.m., met by a guard with a drawn weapon.
Then there was the arrest of an armed man at one of Kennedy’s campaign rallies, a stark reminder of the dangers they faced. It’s the kind of reality check that makes Hollywood’s scripted drama look tame.
Worse still, Kennedy’s repeated requests for Secret Service protection were denied, leaving Hines and her family in a constant state of anxiety. When the government shrugs off credible threats, it’s hard not to wonder if political bias plays a role. This isn’t just negligence; it’s a failure to prioritize basic safety over partisan games.
Amid the campaign chaos, Hines also endured profound personal loss with the passing of her nephew, a blow that compounded the emotional strain. Life, as she poignantly notes, doesn’t pause for grief, even when you’re under a national microscope. It’s a reminder that behind every headline, real human struggles unfold.
“Life isn’t perfect, you know? Things happen—you don’t get to choose when they happen,” Hines reflects. Her words cut through the noise, a sobering antidote to the left’s obsession with curated perfection over gritty reality.
Yet, through it all, Hines and Kennedy didn’t drift apart—they grew closer, defying the suggestion of a staged split. That’s a quiet rebellion against a culture that often demands conformity over conviction. Their bond, tested by fire, stands as a testament to resilience in an age of disposable relationships.
Hines’ memoir isn’t just about campaign drama; it traces her journey from bartending in Los Angeles to earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also delves into her advocacy for United Cerebral Palsy, inspired by her late nephew, and the complexities of a blended family under the Kennedy glare. It’s a story of grit, not glamour, far removed from the shallow narratives peddled by today’s celebrity elite.
Before Kennedy, Hines was married to producer Paul Young, with whom she shares a daughter, Catherine, born in 2004. Now navigating life with Bobby, she’s no stranger to adapting under pressure. Her tale isn’t just a footnote to a political saga; it’s a masterclass in holding steady when the world wants you to break.