Tig Notaro co-hosted the podcast Tig & Cheryl: True Story with Cheryl Hines for three years starting in 2020. However, the comedian quit the podcast in May 2023, the same day that Hines’ controversial husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced his presidential bid. The timing was no coincidence.
“My friendship[with Cheryl]predates Bobby,” Notaro recently told Nicole Wallace on MS NOW’s podcast “The Best People” to discuss the end of her friendship with Hines (via The Daily Beast). “There were things he thought and felt that I didn’t agree with, but he didn’t have the platform that he had during the pandemic. I think I had to quit the podcast because it was too ridiculous, too ridiculous – our show – so it was difficult to do that when he was speaking out with momentum.”
“Tig and Cheryl: The True Story” centers on two hosts discussing a documentary each week. Their conversations often went off the rails thanks to humorous asides and stories. Hines wanted to continue the podcast after Notaro left, and Notaro approved the hiring of comedian Rachel Harris to replace him as host.
“People interrupted my stand-up shows and shouted, ‘Bobby is crazy!'” Notaro said of his decision to leave the podcast. “I told Cheryl that I know it’s a minority of people who backlash online or yell at the show, but I thought, ‘Hey, this isn’t my world. I’m not going to do that. I don’t want to be a part of this.’ And she said, ‘Okay,’ but she wanted the podcast to continue.” We had to leave, but I loved her very much. ”
Notaro continued, “The most upsetting thing for me was that we were in such opposing positions. But not knowing what was going on behind closed doors, I reached out to her and gave her love and support.” Then things took a very serious turn. One day I realized she wasn’t contacting me anymore. She would respond to me, but she wouldn’t reach out to me. I was like, ‘Oh, she’s gone.’ I had to shake myself out of the denial of, ‘Okay, I have to do this.’ I have to let this go. What’s unfortunate is that I’ve had some interviews where people claim that I abandoned her and left her alone, but I was trying to be her friend even though I didn’t feel like I could continue doing the podcast. I think I got over the confusion and sadness.”
Hines’ marriage to RFK Jr. reportedly soured some of her Hollywood relationships, considering RFK’s ties to Trump and the president’s MAGA supporters. RFK Jr. is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration. Hines said, for example, that she no longer speaks to her “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-creator and co-star Larry David.
Watch Notaro’s full interview on the podcast “The Best People” in the video below.
