Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked fresh online backlash after posting a video showing him handling two black racer snakes while visiting Dr. Mehmet Oz in Palm Beach, Florida. In the clip, Kennedy, 72, appears excited as he corners the non-venomous snakes against a wall, bends down, and grabs both of them. The snakes struggle to escape, and at one point one appears to bite him, which he dismisses with laughter. Dr. Oz is heard joking that the snakes may have been “having s–,” while Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, is heard urging him to let them go.
The video quickly drew criticism on social media, where users questioned Kennedy’s judgment and mocked his apparent enthusiasm for handling wildlife. Some compared him unfavorably to late wildlife expert Steve Irwin, while others objected to the way the snakes were restrained and handled. Several commenters also connected the incident to Kennedy’s public image, arguing that the stunt was another example of his unconventional behavior.
The snake video revived attention on Kennedy’s long-documented fascination with dead animals. According to an unauthorized biography, RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise, Kennedy has repeatedly collected roadkill over the years, allegedly storing carcasses in freezers for later study or to feed birds of prey. The book says his diaries include references to stopping along highways to cut up dead animals, with one reported entry describing him working on a road-killed raccoon while his children waited in the car.
Kennedy has also faced widespread ridicule over his well-known story about a dead bear cub. He previously admitted that during a 2014 hiking trip, he picked up a bear cub that had been killed by another vehicle, placed it in his car, and later dumped it in Central Park as a prank. He said the plan was to skin the animal and keep the meat, but he and friends eventually abandoned the carcass in the park to make it look like the bear had been struck by a bicycle.
Kennedy revisited that episode during his 2024 presidential run in an interview with comedian Roseanne Barr, where he described the bear story in detail. He said he found the cub in good condition, intended to process it, and then decided to leave it in Manhattan after realizing he was running late.
The latest snake encounter has once again put Kennedy’s unusual relationship with animals in the spotlight, fueling a wave of criticism online and renewing interest in past stories that have long followed him in the public eye.
