Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told PEOPLE he has not spoken recently with his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, after the death of her daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg. He made the comment at the Starry Starry Night Gala in Palm Desert on Jan. 31, where he and his wife, Cheryl Hines, received an award. Tatiana, 35, announced a terminal diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in November and died in late December. Both Tatiana and Caroline had publicly criticized RFK Jr.'s vaccine positions and his role as HHS secretary prior to her death.
RFK Jr. Says He Hasn't Spoken With Cousin Caroline Kennedy Since Tatiana's Death — "Not Recently," He Tells PEOPLE
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Caroline Kennedy, Tatiana Schlossberg.Michael M. Santiago/Getty; James Devaney/GC Images; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told PEOPLE he has not spoken recently with his cousin Caroline Kennedy in the weeks following the death of her daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg. The remark came during an exclusive interview at the Starry Starry Night Gala in Palm Desert, California, on Jan. 31, where Kennedy and his wife, Cheryl Hines, were honored with an award.
What He Said
When asked whether he had been in contact with Caroline, 68, RFK Jr., 72, replied bluntly,
"Not recently."He added, "Everybody's praying for them," while attending the Chaparral Country Club event, which raised funds and awareness for breast cancer with proceeds benefiting the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.
Cheryl Hines (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) at the Starry Starry Night Gala on Jan. 31.David Crotty/Getty
Family Tensions and Recent Events
Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, publicly revealed a terminal diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in an essay published in The New Yorker in November. She died at age 35 in late December; the JFK Library Foundation posted the family announcement on Dec. 30. A funeral service was held in New York City on Jan. 5 at The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
RFK Jr. did not attend the large public funeral. Instead, on Jan. 5 he announced a change to federal childhood vaccine recommendations as HHS secretary — a policy adjustment that reduced the recommended number of childhood vaccines from 17 to 11.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Caroline Kennedy.John Parra/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty
Public Criticism Within the Family
Before her death, Tatiana criticized her cousin's public health positions, calling him "an embarrassment to me and the rest of my immediate family" and expressing concern about how his HHS role affected the American health care system during her cancer treatment. Caroline Kennedy also publicly criticized RFK Jr. ahead of his confirmation, calling him a "predator," accusing him of being "addicted to attention and power," and saying he was "unqualified" to run the nation's health policy. Other members of the extended Kennedy family have at times publicly denounced RFK Jr. for promoting conspiracy theories and aligning with President Donald Trump.
Despite the family rift, RFK Jr.'s brief comment at the gala emphasized sympathy for Tatiana's immediate family while underscoring the strained nature of his relationships with some relatives.
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