RFK Jr. apologizes after condemnation for Anne Frank comment

[demmiblue]

Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., apologized Tuesday for suggesting things are worse for people today than they were for Anne Frank, the teenager who died in a Nazi concentration camp after hiding with her family in a secret annex in an Amsterdam house for two years.

Kennedy’s comments, made at a Washington rally on Sunday put on by his anti-vaccine nonprofit group, were widely condemned as offensive, outrageous and historically ignorant. It’s the second time since 2015 that Kennedy has apologized for referencing the Holocaust during his work sowing doubt and distrust about vaccines.

“I apologize for my reference to Anne Frank, especially to families that suffered the Holocaust horrors,” Kennedy said in a tweet Tuesday morning. “My intention was to use examples of past barbarism to show the perils from new technologies of control. To the extent my remarks caused hurt, I am truly and deeply sorry.”

Kennedy’s wife, the actress Cheryl Hines of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, distanced herself from her husband in her own tweet about 20 minutes later. She called the reference to Anne Frank “reprehensible and insensitive.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rfk-jr-apologizes-after-condemnation-for-anne-frank-comment/2022/01/25/d7ee05d8-7e03-11ec-8cc8-b696564ba796_story.html

[dchill]

1. Kennedy is one example of those who employ...

..."new technologies of control" for dark purposes. He did it again Sunday.

[global1]

2. How Long Do You Think His Marriage To Cheryl Hines Will Last?....nt

[Bev54]

3. I was thinking the same, how can you respect a person like that?

[empedocles]

10. 7 yr marriage, 9 yr relationship ?

https://people.com/celebrity/cheryl-hines-marries-robert-f-kennedy-jr/

[ColinC]

19. I just saw that his previous wife killed herself

Last edited Tue Jan 25, 2022, 06:16 PM - Edit history (1)

I didn't realize that. Losing his father at such a young age and much later his wife is something I imagine few could truly recover from.

[JanMichael]

26. Hopefully not much longer. He is a f'ing idiot.

She is Jewish and for him to say that in the first place should be a deal breaker.

[Solly Mack]

4. He's done it before. He'll do it again.

So, really, how much does his current apology mean?

[Boomerproud]

14. You're correct. He never learns.

[ret5hd]

20. Well, in his defense...

to the extent his future remarks will cause hurt, he will be truly and deeply sorry.

[hlthe2b]

5. Something tells me that Cheryl Hines gave him the "what for..."

Since he doesn't listen to his mother or siblings (or apparently his former law {Mike Papantonio} and radio partners, but does still seem to care about Hines. She had to be absolutely appalled.

[demmiblue]

8. She is NOT happy, that's for sure! She came out with a stronger statement in the last few hours:

My husband’s reference to Anne Frank at a mandate rally in D.C. was reprehensible and insensitive. The atrocities that millions endured during the Holocaust should never be compared to anyone or anything. His opinions are not a reflection of my own.

Link to tweet

[hlthe2b]

12. Honestly, I am certain she feels this way personally, but she really had to say something more

if she was ever going to face Larry David. Good on her.

[AngryOldDem]

6. Too late.

[orwell]

7. I'm sorry...

...about his non-apology apology.

"To the extent my remarks caused hurt, I am truly and deeply sorry."

That is a bullshit apology. You are only sorry "to the extent my remarks hurt,".

That shows no remorse for your own failure to understand someone else or the harm you are causing. He has learned nothing as evidenced by the fact that this is the second time he has made this analogy.

He is especially dangerous because his "brand" carries such weight. He should be ashamed of himself, but of course that would require a modicum of introspection.

I won't hold my breath...

[Spazito]

9. Well said!

[gristy]

13. Yes, well said.

I was going to post something similar but you've said it really well.

[Nevilledog]

16. Exactly

2013

Link to tweet

2015

[left-of-center2012]

11. "To the extent my remarks caused hurt ..."

I think that's called a half hearted apology?

[Mariana]

15. IOW, he meant what he said

and he still believes that comparison is valid.

[Leith]

21. Not half hearted

more like half assed.

[lame54]

17. Apologized? He's out of the Trump party

[Jilly_in_VA]

18. He said what he said

and the internet is forever. We will NOT forget.

[Lars39]

22. He had to get the talking points out there

for his followers. He’s not sorry at all.

[sakabatou]

23. Fuck you, Junior.

[Xoan]

24. Asshole ...

To the extent my remarks caused hurt, I am truly and deeply sorry.”

[Crunchy Frog]

25. To the extent his remarks caused hurt???!!!

He's sorry he got called out.

[budkin]

27. He absolutely SUCKS

That's all.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

28. This is a non-apology apology and is not acceptable

It does not matter if people are offended by these comments. This statement was simply stupid and wrong

Link to tweet