RFK Jr handles mating snakes barehanded as Cheryl Hines reacts, ‘you’re nuts’ in viral video

WASHINGTON, DC: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, on Tuesday, May 25, added another bizarre wildlife moment to his long history of unusual animal encounters after posting a video of himself handling two live snakes with his bare hands while his wife, Cheryl Hines, watched in disbelief.

The clip caught viewers' attention quickly and crossed 2 million views in little over 60 minutes.

The viral video showed Kennedy attempting to remove two black racer snakes that appeared to be mating on the patio of a property owned by Mehmet Oz. 

Throughout the chaotic encounter, Hines repeatedly begged her husband to stop.

RFK Jr grabs mating snakes

Kennedy shared the footage on social media with the caption “Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio.”

But Hines sounded far less enthusiastic in the video itself.

As Kennedy approached the writhing snakes and attempted to grab them by hand, Hines could be heard repeatedly shouting, “Bobby, why?”

Kennedy, smiling as he held the twisting reptiles up for the camera, appeared completely unfazed by the situation.

The mood shifted slightly moments later when one of the snakes seemingly bit his finger. “Oh my God,” Hines exclaimed.

“You’re nuts,” Hines told her husband as the snakes continued coiling around his hands. When someone asked whether the animals were biting him, Kennedy casually replied: “Yeah.”

The video became even more chaotic as Kennedy moved closer to the camera while still gripping the snakes.

“Honey, honey, let them go! Oh my God. Bobby, please!” Hines pleaded from behind the camera.

Kennedy, however, appeared amused by the entire ordeal and continued holding the snakes while grinning for the video.

The clip quickly spread online, adding to Kennedy’s already extensive reputation for unusual encounters involving animals and wildlife.

RFK Jr's long history of bizarre animal stories

The snake video is only the latest chapter in a years-long series of strange and controversial stories tied to Kennedy and animals.

Earlier this month, Kennedy also posted photographs showing himself holding a live bird that he described as a rescue at Washington Dulles International Airport.

In 2024, a resurfaced photograph published by The New Yorker showed Kennedy posing beside a dead bear. 

Kennedy later claimed he had dumped the animal in New York’s Central Park as part of what became a bizarre public story that drew widespread attention online.

Additional claims emerged in a biography by investigative journalist Isabel Vincent, which cited journal entries attributed to Kennedy describing unusual encounters with animals.