SouthernWorldwide.com – In a rather unusual display of confidence, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was filmed handling a pair of non-venomous black racer snakes on the patio of Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The incident, captured in a video posted by Kennedy Jr. himself to his X account on Tuesday, shows him fearlessly interacting with the reptiles.
His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, can be heard expressing her shock and disbelief in the background. “Honey, honey… why?” she exclaimed as Kennedy Jr. approached the snakes.
The video depicts Kennedy Jr. crouching down and lunging towards the snakes, eventually grasping them by their tails. Throughout the encounter, which lasts about 50 seconds, the snakes repeatedly bit him.
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Despite the repeated bites, Kennedy Jr. appeared unfazed, even managing a wry smile. “Black snakes, they’re biting me,” he remarked calmly.
Hines continued to voice her concern, exclaiming, “you are nuts.” She further pleaded with her husband, “Bobby, please! Bobby, Bobby, please,” as he proudly showcased the snakes.
Kennedy Jr. captioned the video on his X account, humorously stating, “Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio.”
While Hines’ reaction might seem extreme to some, it’s noted that Kennedy Jr. has a documented history of engaging with wild creatures, suggesting this might not be an entirely new experience for his wife.
In addition to his apparent interest in falconry, Kennedy Jr. has been involved in several other notable encounters with wildlife.
In 2024, the former environmental lawyer admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park, an incident that garnered significant media attention.
Another widely reported story involved Kennedy Jr. allegedly decapitating a beached whale. He reportedly strapped the whale’s head to the hood of his car and transported it from a Massachusetts beach to his home in Mount Kisco, New York.
The black racer snakes, though they bit Kennedy Jr., are not considered dangerous to humans. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, these snakes are nonvenomous and harmless.
However, the museum does note that they “readily bite to defend themselves,” and “virtually all bites occur when the snakes are intentionally molested,” which appears to be the case in the video.
The publication date for this article is May 26, 2026, 2:01 p.m. EDT.
