There are some Hollywood celebrities that allegedly accepted an invitation to a gala celebrating Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s 70th birthday. Now they say they never agreed to come.
The birthday celebration is also a campaign fundraiser. Actor Martin Sheen, well-known for playing President Jed Bartlet on The West Wing, is a loyal Democrat. He is a Biden supporter, so when his name popped up, it was a surprise to many. He is not supporting RFK, Jr. and will not attend the event. He sent out some West Wing actors to get the word out on social media.
Bradley Whitford played the Josh Lyman character on The West Wing.
There’s a story going around saying that Martin Sheen is supporting @RobertKennedyJr for president. The story is incorrect. Martin asked us to post this on his behalf.
“I wholeheartedly support President Joe Biden and the democratic ticket in 2024.
Sincerely,
Martin Sheen”— Bradley Whitford (@BradleyWhitford) January 4, 2024
Mary McCormack played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper. She posted this on her X account:
— Mary McCormack (@marycmccormack) January 4, 2024
It turns out that the birthday gala was planned and announced back in December. Martin Sheen, Mike Tyson, and Dionne Warwick were reported to be “well-wishers” who would be attending the event. This is where the kerfuffle comes in. Sheen is most adamant about not supporting Kennedy and Dionne Warwick weighed in, too.
This is absolutely ridiculous. If you are going to lie on my name, at least lie about something cool.
“Revealed: Dionne collaborates with Rihanna on new album…” pic.twitter.com/Fve7W3Ikhl
— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) January 4, 2024
The event is hosted by a PAC supporting Kennedy, not hosted by Kennedy’s campaign.
“The Indian Wells fundraiser is a PAC event,” the RFK Jr campaign told Deadline today. “The campaign doesn’t have anything to do with organizing of this event. The campaign has no knowledge of who is attending and can’t confirm or deny anyone’s participation, either as entertainment or as a guest.”
Then it gets confusing.
“We would not have included Mr. Sheen in our list of attendees had we not received confirmation that he was attending,” a spokesperson for the Fighting 4 One America PAC informed Deadline of Sheen’s participation in the January 22 RFK Jr event. The organizers of the event, who are referred to as Silent Majority 4 RFK Jr. on the invite, say they were told by the CAA-repped Sheen’s team at Special Artists Agency that the long time activist “would be delighted to attend.”
It sounds like Sheen agreed to go to a party but may have not known the party was a Kennedy campaign fundraiser. Perhaps he thought he could go to such an event and it wouldn’t make headlines. Who knows? Hollywood Democrats are as nervous about Biden’s chances for being re-elected as all the other Democrats are. They see the writing on the wall, at least as it is now. Democrats are worried that Kennedy’s bid will take support from Biden, as many Democrats are unhappy with Biden.
Joshua Malina, whose character Will Bailey was a speechwriter, posted on X, too. He pointed out that Dionne Warwick objected to being a “well wisher” and then Sheen followed along.
Huzzah! https://t.co/JLPLyuJX0Y
— (((Jew))) (@JoshMalina) January 4, 2024
Anyway, Hollywood has given big bucks to Joe Biden and his current campaign is no exception. They don’t want to be seen even wishing another candidate a happy birthday, even a Kennedy. This Kennedy is being mocked by some of his siblings, too.
Even members of Kennedy’s own family have come out against him.
“The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third-party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country,” read a social media post last fall signed by four of his siblings. “Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment,” Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy II, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend added. “Today’s announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.”
RFK Jr. is the third of the 11 children of RFK and Ethel Kennedy.
That’s pretty tacky, but that is what is happening. Kennedy said in a recent interview that he attended a big family celebration and only these siblings were critical of his presidential run. Other family members – he said over 100 were in attendance – were very supportive, especially younger family members.
The most important Hollywood celebrity in Kennedy’s life will be attending the birthday party. His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, will be there and supporting her husband. She has supported her husband all along and is frequently on the campaign trail with him.