Tig Notaro and Cheryl Hines entertained comedy followers with their “Tig and Cheryl: True Story” podcast, which launched in 2020.
However three years later, Notaro, 54, abruptly exited the undertaking. Her Might 2023 departure got here one month after Hines’ politician husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., introduced his marketing campaign for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
A couple of 12 months later, Notaro confirmed throughout an October 2025 episode of the “Breaking Bread With Tom Papa” podcast that she needed to half skilled methods with Hines, 60, because of Kennedy’s political advances.
“Cheryl’s married to Bobby Kennedy Jr.,” Notaro mentioned in the course of the episode. “When he was saying his run, I simply felt like I wanted to step away … as a result of there are beliefs that had been like a gnat on the arm years in the past that had been getting additional into the highlight.”
The comic went on to elucidate that the political stance of Kennedy, the Secretary of Well being and Human Companies for President Donald Trump’s administration, grew to become too problematic. “My friendship with Cheryl predated her marriage to Bobby,” Notaro mentioned of the couple, who obtained married in 2014. “He was in environmental legislation. And once more, different beliefs he had had been like a gnat on my arm.”
In a brand new interview for MS Now’s “The Best People” podcast, printed on Monday, March 9, Notaro has mirrored on her previous friendship even additional.
Maintain scrolling for extra perception into Notaro’s falling out with Hines:
Notaro Felt ‘Ridiculous’ After Kennedy’s Energy Transfer
“Tig and Cheryl: True Story” concerned the 2 hosts dissecting a documentary each week, with their musings typically leading to humorous anecdotes and observations. Notaro mentioned throughout her MS Now interview that the work felt completely different within the wake of Kennedy, 72, saying his marketing campaign.
“There have been issues he thought and felt that I didn’t agree with, however he didn’t have the platform he obtained within the pandemic. I feel that I wanted to cease doing the podcast, as a result of it was so ridiculous, it was so silly— our present — that it was onerous to be doing that when he was gaining momentum and talking,” she advised host Nicole Wallace.

Tig Notaro Jon Kopaloff/Getty Pictures for The Artistic Coalition
Notaro’s Stand-Up Exhibits Turned Impacted
Notaro mentioned in the course of the MS Now interview that her affiliation with Hines and Kennedy led to politically fuelled heckling throughout her stand-up performances.
“Folks would interrupt my stand-up reveals and yell, ‘Bobby is loopy!’” Notaro mentioned. “I used to be telling Cheryl that I do know it’s a small proportion that pushes again on-line or yells out at reveals, however I used to be, like, ‘Man, this isn’t my world. I don’t do that. I don’t need to be part of this.’”
Notaro famous that Hines was initially understanding of her determination to exit their podcast. “She [Hines] was like, ‘I perceive,’ however she needed to maintain doing the podcast. I needed to step away, however I liked her a lot,” Notaro recalled.
Notaro was changed by Rachael Harris on “Tig and Cheryl: True Story,” however manufacturing ended for good in December 2023.
Their Friendship Dynamic Shifted After Notaro Left the Podcast
Notaro mentioned she was upset as her friendship with Hines modified within the wake of her departure from the podcast. “What was most upsetting to me is we had been in such opposing locations, however I continued to achieve out to her and ship her love and help as a result of I didn’t know what was happening behind closed doorways. Then issues shifted very severely,” she acknowledged within the interview.
“I spotted in the future that she doesn’t ever attain out to me anymore. She responds to me, however she doesn’t attain out to me. I needed to sort of shake myself out of denial that, ‘Oh, she’s gone,’ and, ‘OK, I must let this go. I must let it go.’”

Cheryl Hines Jamie McCarthy/Getty Pictures for Equipment Council
Notaro Denies ‘Dumping’ Hines as a Pal
The comic additionally claimed that experiences stating that she “dumped” Hines had been incorrect. “What was a bummer is that there’s some interviews claiming I dumped her and left her within the mud due to Bobby, however I used to be attempting to be a buddy to her regardless that I didn’t really feel like I might proceed with the podcast,” she mentioned in the course of the MS Now interview. “It’s been very unusual, and I feel I’ve moved previous the confusion and disappointment.”
Hines Felt Helpless Amid Notaro’s Exit From the Podcast
Hines mentioned throughout a November 2025 episode of the ‘“Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast that she felt helpless when Notaro left. “When it was feeling so much for her, there wasn’t a lot I might do about it apart from depart my husband,” she mentioned on the time. “That is what she feels she must do for herself … and she or he feels she must distance herself from me.”












