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Tig Notaro opened up about her devastating friendship split with Cheryl Hines during a candid podcast appearance this week. The comedian described the breakup as “very strange,” citing RFK Jr.‘s political rise and Trump ties as the core issue that fractured their decades-long bond.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Friendship Timeline: Tig Notaro and Cheryl Hines met in the early 2000s after Hines saw Notaro’s standup performance
- Podcast Run: They co-hosted “Tig and Cheryl: True Story” together for three years, from 2020 to May 2023
- The Breaking Point: RFK Jr.’s April 2023 presidential campaign announcement triggered the friendship’s collapse
- Recent Comments: On March 9, Notaro revealed the painful details on Nicole Wallace’s “The Best People” podcast
The Friendship That Predated ‘Bobby’
Tig Notaro emphasized that her connection with Cheryl Hines stretched back well before RFK Jr. entered the picture. In the early 2000s, Hines attended one of Notaro’s standup sets and was so impressed she helped the comedian secure her first manager. This act of kindness launched a genuine friendship that would last for more than two decades.
By the time they joined forces for their podcast “Tig and Cheryl: True Story” in 2020, the two had established a strong professional and personal bond. Their show became known for its hilarious, “ridiculous” banter that delighted fans across the comedy world.
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Tig Notaro opens up about ‘very strange’ friendship split with Cheryl Hines over RFK Jr.
When Politics Changed Everything
Notaro revealed that her partnership with Hines became increasingly difficult once RFK Jr. gained political momentum. When he announced his presidential campaign in April 2023, things shifted dramatically. The comedian explained that her standup shows were suddenly interrupted by hecklers yelling, “Bobby is crazy,” making her feel like she was part of a political movement she didn’t support.
“People would interrupt my stand-up shows and yell, ‘Bobby is crazy,'” Notaro said. “I was telling Cheryl, ‘I know it’s a small percentage that pushes back online or yells out at shows,’ but I was like, ‘Man, this is not my world. I don’t do this. I don’t want to be a part of this.'” Hines expressed understanding, but she wanted to continue the podcast despite the complications.
The Painful Departure and Its Aftermath
| Event | Timeline |
| Tig and Cheryl: True Story Podcast Launch | 2020 |
| RFK Jr. Announces Presidential Campaign | April 2023 |
| Podcast Ends | May 2023 |
| RFK Jr. Endorses Trump | August 2024 |
| Notaro Discusses Fallout Publicly | March 2026 |
Notaro made the difficult decision to step away from the podcast, which ended in May 2023. She said she loved Hines deeply, but felt she had to protect her career and values. What made the situation even more painful was that Notaro continued trying to maintain the friendship. She reached out with love and support, but noticed something had shifted.
“I realized one day that she doesn’t ever reach out to me anymore. 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,’ and, ‘OK, I need to let this go. I need to let it go.'”
— Tig Notaro, Comedian and Podcast Host
The MAGA Question That Divided Them
RFK Jr. dropped out of the 2024 presidential race in August 2024 and endorsed Donald Trump, later becoming Secretary of Health and Human Services. His full embrace of MAGA ideology created an irreconcilable philosophical divide. Notaro stated plainly that Hines is “clearly endorsing” positions she fundamentally opposes regarding vaccines, health policy, and Trump‘s agenda.
In previous podcast appearances, Notaro had described Hines as “a really important person” in her life and “one of my favorites,” someone she “absolutely loved being silly with.” But the political transformation felt like losing a different person altogether.
Did the Friendship Have to End This Way?
Notaro added a final layer of frustration to her account, noting that some interviews claimed she “dumped” Hines and “left her in the dust because of Bobby.” The comedian made clear that wasn’t the case. She had genuinely tried to preserve their bond, but Hines stopped reaching out. “It’s been very strange, and I think I’ve moved past the confusion and sadness,” Notaro concluded.
Whether this friendship can ever be repaired remains unclear. What’s certain is that RFK Jr.’s political ascent has fractured not just celebrity friendships, but exposed deeper divides about values, politics, and what people will tolerate for love and loyalty.
Sources
- People Magazine – Comprehensive interview with Tig Notaro discussing the friendship fallout and her appearance on Nicole Wallace’s podcast
- Variety – Coverage of the three-year podcast partnership and political tensions between the comedians
- USA Today – Analysis of how Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s political career affected celebrity relationships and public perception
