Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will turn 70 on Jan. 17. Festivities will no longer include attendance at a birthday party fundraiser planned by American Values 2024, the super PAC that backs Mr. Kennedy’s presidential campaign.
A spokesperson from Mr. Kennedy’s campaign confirmed that he would not appear at the event after multiple celebrities who had been announced as participants said they never planned to attend.
Andrea Bocelli, Martin Sheen, Dionne Warwick, and Mike Tyson were among the well-known figures who were slated to be at the Jan. 22 fundraiser in Indian Wells, California, according to a report by The Daily Mail.
American Values 2024 posted a link to the story online, which drew a swift response from Mr. Sheen, who portrayed a fictional Democrat president in “The West Wing.” The actor asked his co-stars in the political TV drama to notify the public he would not attend and that he did not support Mr. Kennedy.
Bradley Whitford, who portrayed the fictional deputy chief of staff on The West Wing, posted: “There’s a story going around saying that Martin Sheen is supporting @RobertKennedyKr 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,’” according to the post.
Ms. Warwick also posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the fundraiser.
“I don’t know anything about this event. I did not agree to it and I certainly won’t be there. If you are going to lie in my name, at least lie about something cool: ‘Revealed: Dionne collaborates with Rihanna on new album.’” Ms. Warwick wrote.
A representative for Mr. Bocelli told Rolling Stone that the Italian tenor will not sing at the gala. According to Page Six, a spokesperson for Mr. Tyson said that the boxer declined an invitation to appear.
The Kennedy campaign was not involved in organizing the fundraiser, according to a campaign spokesperson.
Celebrity Support
Over the next month, his schedule also includes around a dozen private fundraisers and private events, including whale watching and a sunset reception in Hawaii; and a comedy show featuring his wife, Cheryl Hines, and other headliners, according to a campaign email.One of the galas includes a Jan. 31 birthday celebration hosted by actress Alicia Silverstone in Los Angeles.
Though figures like Mr. Sheen and Ms. Warwick said they are not supporting Mr. Kennedy, he has received widespread backing from entertainers and professional athletes.
Ms. Silverstone backed Mr. Kennedy in a June Instagram post.
“Last year, I canceled my Democratic Party registration and registered as an independent voter. Like many others, I am deeply disappointed with political leadership at every turn,” she wrote, adding that she’s tired of “the division, the lies, [and] the profiteering at the expense of the people and public health.”
Like Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Silverstone has been outspoken about the safety of some vaccines.
She said she has worked with Mr. Kennedy on children’s health and environmental issues for more than a decade.
Mr. Kennedy is an environmental attorney and founder of the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense.
Americans who feel “disenfranchised by our government” should give Mr. Kennedy a chance in the 2024 campaign, Ms. Silverstone said, because he could unite the country and help “young and old to trust our government once again.”
“I love his vision of peace, unity, and justice for all. I am uplifted by his commitment to protect civil and worker rights as well as our children’s health. We need leaders who will resolve poverty, pollution, inequality, and stop wars. Bobby is that leader,” she wrote.
Born in Ireland, the 70-year-old actor gained U.S. citizenship in 2004 so that he could vote for John Kerry in the presidential election, according to the Irish Examiner. Mr. Kerry lost to President George W. Bush.
Mr. Brosnan was initially critical of President Donald Trump and threatened to leave the country if he was elected in 2016. During President Trump’s term, though, he reversed his stance and said his tenure was “very good” for the U.S. economy.
Woody Harrelson is another actor who has received backlash for supporting Mr. Kennedy.
Ms. Hines, who gained acclaim from her role in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” posted a selfie earlier this year of her standing with Mr. Harrelson, who wore a “Kennedy 2024” hat.
“Great seeing you Woody,” Ms. Hines wrote in a caption that accompanied the photo.
Mr. Harrelson, who publicly criticized the COVID-19 vaccine, faced backlash on social media for wearing the hat.
At the Iowa State Fair last summer, Mr. Kennedy grinned when asked by a reporter about Mr. Harrelson.
“One thing is he doesn’t like cell phones. It’s conceivable that he does not know about all of the controversy. He doesn’t watch TV. He doesn’t have his cellphone, and he’s kind of off the grid,” Mr. Kennedy said.
Eric Clapton performed at a private fundraiser for Mr. Kennedy near Los Angeles, raising $1 million for the campaign and $1.2 million for American Values 2024, a PAC supporting Mr. Kennedy’s presidential bid.
Leading to the event, Mr. Clapton called it a performance for “truth, unity, peace, and posterity.”
Mr. Schneider told Larry King in a 2017 interview that he was once a lifelong Democrat but had shifted to an independent who’s “definitely more conservative.”
“Inspiring, hopeful, courageous, and most importantly [like his father] compassionate,” Mr. Schneider wrote about Mr. Kennedy.
Celebrity Endorsements Valuable
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former CIA undercover agent and Twitter executive who was named Mr. Kennedy’s campaign manager last October, believes the celebrity endorsements are valuable for an independent candidate who does not have the financial backing and mainstream media exposure of Democrat and Republican candidates.She points to polls that show his favorability rating and approval among voters between the ages of 18 and 34 as reasons for optimism about the campaign.
Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Haley led in the least favorable category at 34 percent compared to 58 percent for President Biden, 57 percent for President Trump, and 52 percent for Mr. DeSantis.
The same study indicated that Mr. Kennedy (36 percent) led President Biden (32 percent) and President Trump (26 percent) among independents. Mr. Kennedy also outpaced President Biden and President Trump with voters aged 18 to 34 with 40 percent support compared to 36 percent for President Biden and 21 percent for President Trump.
The balance said they remained undecided or wouldn’t vote.
The poll included 3,662 likely voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
That survey shows Mr. Kennedy leading President Biden and President Trump among voters younger than the age of 45 in those six states.
“More people are starting to realize that Bobby can win. For the first time in their lifetime, the two-party system can be broken and they can vote for someone who excites them rather than having to vote for the lesser of two evils,” Ms. Kennedy told The Epoch Times.
“We have an increasing tide of public figures, athletes, celebrities, spiritual leaders, activists, tech leaders on every side of the political spectrum that are stepping forward to support Bobby,” Ms. Kennedy added, noting that Mr. Kennedy recently met with author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. Mr. Kennedy posted a photo with Mr. Robbins on X.
Gaining public support from “thought leaders” who “influence public opinion” and cultivate trust matters to American voters, Ms. Kennedy told The Epoch Times.
“The establishment media and the government itself have proven to be untrustworthy, so there is credibility in the eyes of the American public when respected figures express their faith in Bobby and believe he can win,” Ms. Kennedy said.
“More people are awakening to not only the possibility but the probability that this candidate who they love so much and who started out as a long shot is on a path to the White House.”
