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Cheryl Hines‘ years-long friendship with Tig Notaro just shattered over the actress’s embrace of her husband’s MAHA claims. The Curb Your Enthusiasm star’s transformation shocked her former best friend. Just hours ago, Notaro opened up about the “very strange” and painful ending of their bond.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Friendship Duration: Cheryl Hines and Tig Notaro were close friends from 2020 to 2023, cohosting the podcast “Tig and Cheryl: True Story”
- Breaking Point: The rift deepened when RFK Jr. launched his 2024 presidential campaign and Hines became increasingly vocal about his controversial views
- Final Straw: After RFK Jr. endorsed Trump in August 2024, the friendship became “too hard” for Notaro to maintain
- Recent Revelation: On March 9, 2026, Notaro revealed she had to “shake herself out of denial” that “she’s gone”
A Close Bond Fractured by Politics
Tig Notaro, 54, and Cheryl Hines, 60, shared a friendship built on laughter, documentaries, and genuine joy. They cohosted their popular podcast “Tig and Cheryl: True Story” for three years, where Notaro said they gave each other “the deepest, hardest laughs.”
But when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his presidential run in April 2023, everything changed. The podcast ended abruptly in May 2023, just one month later. Notaro felt she had to step away from something she loved because the comedian couldn’t ignore the growing platform for views she deeply opposed.
Cheryl Hines’ friendship with Tig Notaro ended over MAHA claims
Zoe Saldana shines at The Bluff screening in Cayman Islands
“It was so ridiculous, it was so stupid,” Notaro explained, referring to continuing the lighthearted show while RFK Jr.’s influence expanded. She loved Hines but found herself unable to balance the friendship with her own values.
The MAHA Movement and Hollywood Division
MAHA, which stands for “Make America Healthy Again,” represents RFK Jr.’s controversial health agenda focused on vaccine skepticism and unsubstantiated medical claims. Cheryl Hines initially stayed quiet about her husband’s political involvement, but after Trump appointed him as Health and Human Services Secretary, she became increasingly vocal.
In October 2025, Hines appeared on “The View” and parroted many of her husband’s disputed claims, claiming she wasn’t a political person despite her public advocacy. This transformation alienated not only Notaro but also other Hollywood friends, with some unfollowing her on social media entirely.
The issue wasn’t just disagreement, Notaro emphasized. “You’re okaying a particular ride for this country to go on,” she said, pointing out that supporting RFK Jr.’s agenda meant endorsing positions with real-world health consequences.
When Communication Became One-Sided
| Friendship Phase | Timeline | Key Event |
| Active Partnership | 2020-2023 | Podcast co-hosting, deep friendship |
| Breaking Point | April-May 2023 | RFK Jr. announces campaign, podcast ends |
| Distant Contact | 2023-2025 | Notaro reaches out, Hines responds but doesn’t initiate |
| Full Separation | 2025-Present | Notaro realizes friendship is one-directional |
Notaro continued reaching out to Hines for some time after the podcast ended. But over the years, a painful pattern emerged. “I realized one day that she doesn’t ever reach out to me anymore,” Notaro revealed. “She responds to me, but she doesn’t reach out to me.”
This realization hit hard. When someone you love stops initiating contact, it sends a message about where you stand in their life. Notaro finally accepted what she’d been denying: this friendship was over. The woman she knew had, in her own words, “gone.”
Grief Over a Lost Friendship
“It’s been very strange, and I think I’ve moved past the confusion and sadness.”
— Tig Notaro, Comedian
Notaro‘s most recent appearance on MS NOW’s The Best People with Nicolle Wallace (March 9, 2026) revealed the emotional weight of this loss. She became visibly emotional discussing how much the podcast had brought her joy and how much Cheryl had meant to her.
“It’s really sad, because it did bring me so much joy,” she said. “And Cheryl did bring me so much joy. But that’s what I’m looking for,” she continued, emphasizing her need to surround herself with people and projects that energize rather than drain her.
The tragedy isn’t just about a friendship ending. It’s about values that couldn’t be reconciled and a transformation that Notaro couldn’t accept or support.
What Does This Mean for Hollywood Friendships Over Politics?
The Hines-Notaro split reflects a larger trend in entertainment: friendships fracturing over ideological and political differences. Hines has reportedly lost multiple friendships, with actress Laurie David publicly calling her out and others distancing themselves quietly.
Notaro‘s willingness to speak publicly about this separation shows the depth of the hurt but also her recognition that some bonds simply can’t survive fundamental disagreements. She’s not attacking Hines personally, but rather drawing a line about what kind of influence and agenda she can support.
For fans of their podcast and observers of their friendship, there’s sadness in what might have been. They made each other laugh in ways that seemed irreplaceable. But when one person’s life choices conflict too deeply with another’s values, even the strongest friendships can crumble. The question remains: could this friendship ever be repaired, or has the gap become too wide to bridge?
Sources
- The Daily Beast: Comprehensive interview with Tig Notaro about her falling out with Cheryl Hines (March 9, 2026)
- People Magazine: Detailed account of Notaro explaining her “really sad” falling out with Hines (October 16, 2025)
- Entertainment Weekly: Analysis of the friendship breakup over RFK Jr.’s political involvement (October 16, 2025)
