Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized on Monday to his family members after a super PAC backing him in his 2024 campaign for the White House aired a commercial during the Super Bowl and on Sunday night.
Kennedy shared his apology on social media, confirming that he did not have anything to do with the advertisement.
“I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain. The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you,” Kennedy wrote on X.
American Values 2024 ran the 30-second ad during the big game, showing imagery from former President John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1960.
The Hill was able to confirm with PAC co-chair Tony Lyons that the ad cost $7 million to run before the Super Bowl halftime show.
Kennedy’s cousin, Bobby Shriver, criticized the commercial after it aired, sharing his thoughts on social media.
“My cousin’s Super Bowl ad used our uncle’s faces- and my Mother’s. She would be appalled by his deadly health care views. Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA. She strongly supported my health care work at @ONECampaign & @RED which he opposes,” Shriver wrote.
This isn’t the first time the super PAC has faced criticism, as the DNC accused Kennedy’s campaign of illegally coordinating with the organization last week, though Kennedy denied this Friday.
“After the day they had yesterday, it’s understandable they’d want to put the focus on someone else,” Kennedy wrote Friday. “The DNC is in no position to assert morality over anyone — they refused to have a primary and have worked against the will of the people in the past few elections. It’s sad to see the party my family built crash and burn.”
As for the commercial, even though he’s apologized, Kennedy still had it pinned to the top of his X profile as of Tuesday morning.