Tig Notaro Opens Up About Her ‘Very Strange’ Falling Out With Cheryl Hines

TIG Notaro is sharing new details about the end of her podcast partnership and longtime friendship with Cheryl Hines.

The comedian revealed that she stepped away from their podcast, “Tig and Cheryl: True Story,” in 2023 as Cheryl’s husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., became more politically prominent.

Notaro said the situation became increasingly uncomfortable as Kennedy’s views gained more attention, explaining that she no longer felt able to continue the lighthearted show while the political spotlight intensified.

She also shared that the connection began affecting her stand-up shows, with audience members shouting comments about Kennedy during performances, according to Us Weekly.

According to Notaro, Hines initially understood her decision to leave the podcast, and Notaro said she still tried to maintain the friendship afterward. But over time, she felt the relationship changed, saying Hines stopped reaching out and that she eventually had to accept the friendship had faded.

Notaro pushed back on the idea that she “dumped” Hines, saying she was saddened by how things unfolded and had continued to offer support even after leaving the show.

Hines has also addressed the split publicly, saying she felt there was little she could do aside from respecting Notaro’s need for distance.

The podcast later continued with Rachael Harris before ending in December 2023. While the friendship appears to have cooled, Notaro says she has moved beyond the confusion and sadness surrounding the fallout.