Cheryl Hines is speaking up after a former late-night television host called her out. It's a feud five years in the making, but is only now heating up.
Hines is now responding directly to allegations that she and her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sold comedian Chelsea Handler a “toxic” $6 million Los Angeles home. The transaction took place five years ago, leading Hines to question the timing of Handler's complaint.
Speaking on a forthcoming episode of the Fearless podcast, Hines pushed back on Handler’s claims, suggesting they don’t quite add up. “She bought this house five years ago, and she’s just now complaining about it,” Hines said (via People). “I don’t know that she’s getting a lot of sympathy from people. She’s buying a $6 million house.”
The Curb Your Enthusiasm star also suggested that Handler's use of the word "toxic" doesn't make sense, either. The former Chelsea Lately host claimed that the foundation had issues, along with a list of other renovations.
The back-and-forth stems from Handler’s own recent comments on her podcast, Dear Chelsea, where she detailed her frustrations with the Brentwood property. She also discussed the home during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
According to Handler, she was unable to move into the home for five years after purchasing it from Hines and Kennedy. She described the property as “f***ed up,” claiming serious issues were missed during the inspection process.
“It was a disaster, and I didn’t know it going in because everything was, you know, under wraps,” Handler said, adding that contractors allegedly told her the house “is the most toxic environment.” She also claimed the home required two years of renovations.
So why bring it up now? Hines speculated that there could be another motive behind Handler’s accusations: attention. “So, what are you going to do? She’s trying to get a laugh, I guess, and some likes,” Hines said, suggesting it’s “probably fun for [Handler] to make fun of” Kennedy.
The actress may not be too far off with that point. With Kennedy now serving in President Donald Trump’s cabinet, he’s become an increasingly visible (and polarizing) figure, and a frequent target for late-night comedians.
Handler, of course, built her brand on sharp humor during her time hosting Chelsea Lately, holding nothing back, no matter who was involved. And despite moving on from the genre, those instincts haven’t exactly faded. Taking a swipe at Kennedy is still right up Handler's alley.
The question now is how long this feud will go on. Truthfully, most people probably don't want to hear about millionaires going back-and-forth over house renovations. But Handler knows how to tell a story, and Kennedy (along with Hines) remains an easy target.