Comedian Tig Notaro has offered her most candid reflection yet on the dissolution of her decades-long friendship with actress Cheryl Hines, citing the political trajectory of Hines’ husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the primary catalyst for their “severed” bond.
Speaking on the March 9 episode of Nicole Wallace’s MS Now: The Best People podcast, Notaro, 54, revealed that while she attempted to maintain the relationship despite fundamental ideological divides, the connection eventually collapsed under the weight of Kennedy’s controversial political shift.
The Catalyst: From Comedy to Campaigning
The rift began to widen in early 2023 as Kennedy launched his presidential bid. Notaro and Hines had co-hosted the successful podcast Tig and Cheryl: True Story since 2020, a venture Notaro described as “ridiculous” and lighthearted. However, as Kennedy’s campaign gained momentum—marked by high-profile skepticism regarding public health—the atmosphere surrounding the production became untenable.
“People would interrupt my stand-up shows and yell, ‘Bobby is crazy!’” Notaro told Wallace. “I was telling Cheryl, ‘Man, this is not my world. I don’t do this. I don’t want to be a part of this.’”
While Hines reportedly expressed understanding, she wished to continue the podcast. Notaro ultimately stepped away in May 2023, effectively ending the show.
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A One-Sided Correspondence
Notaro clarified that her exit from the podcast was not intended to be an exit from Hines’ life. The two had been close since the early 2000s, with Hines originally helping Notaro secure her first talent manager.
Despite the professional split, Notaro claims she continued to reach out to Hines with “love and support” as Kennedy transitioned from an independent candidate to a prominent surrogate for President Donald Trump. Kennedy now serves as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), a role he assumed following the 2024 election.
“I realized one day that she doesn’t ever reach out to me anymore,” Notaro confessed. “She responds to me, but she doesn’t reach out to me. I had to kind of shake myself out of denial that, ‘Oh, she’s gone.’”
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Contradictory Narratives
The fallout has been compounded by public perception. Notaro expressed frustration over interviews in which Hines allegedly suggested Notaro “dumped her” due to Kennedy’s politics. Notaro characterized this narrative as a “bummer,” asserting that her efforts to preserve the friendship were met with silence.
“It’s been very strange, and I think I’ve moved past the confusion and sadness,” Notaro said.
This latest interview follows briefer comments Notaro made in October 2025, where she first described the loss of the friendship as “really sad.” On her current podcast, Handsome, Notaro previously noted that Hines appears to be “clearly endorsing” the policies and rhetoric championed by Kennedy—positions Notaro stated she fundamentally opposes.
Political Implications
The personal fracture between the two Hollywood figures mirrors a broader national trend of relational strain linked to the 2024 election cycle and its aftermath. Kennedy’s appointment to the HHS cabinet post remains a flashpoint for debate, particularly concerning his views on vaccination and federal health oversight.
For Notaro, the professional and personal cost of the association became a “boundary” issue.
“I had to kind of shake myself out of denial,” Notaro concluded. “I need to let it go.”
