Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, has publicly admitted to a controversial act from 2014: staging the appearance of a dead bear cub in Central Park. The confession came on August 4 via a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), where Kennedy, 70, discussed the incident with comedian Roseanne Barr.
The story first gained attention in 2014 when a dead bear cub, aged about six months and weighing 44 pounds, was discovered in Central Park under some bushes, partially covered by an abandoned bicycle. At the time, the cub’s presence was reported as an oddity, with initial suggestions that it might have been involved in a bicycle accident. The incident was covered by then-New York Times reporter Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy.
In his video, Kennedy explained that he and friends had picked up the bear after witnessing a van hit and kill a young bear in the Hudson Valley. Initially planning to use the bear’s meat, Kennedy had to abandon this idea due to his commitments, including a dinner at Peter Luger Steak House and a flight. Faced with the dilemma of what to do with the bear, Kennedy decided to leave it in Central Park, staging it to look like it had been hit by a bicycle. He justified this decision by noting a series of bicycle accidents in New York at the time and thought it would be “funny” to create a plausible scenario for the bear’s presence.
Kennedy recounted that the next day, the story was widely covered on television, and he was initially shocked by the unexpected media attention. He expressed concern about leaving his fingerprints on the bike but noted that the story eventually faded from public view.
Kennedy’s decision to share the story now seems to be influenced by an upcoming article in The New Yorker that will feature the incident. He referenced this in his X post, saying, “Looking forward to seeing how you spin this one,” while tagging the magazine. Kennedy acknowledged that the revelation might not be well-received, calling it a “bad story.”
The incident highlights Kennedy’s complex and often controversial public persona. His confession adds a layer of intrigue to his political campaign and personal life, reflecting a mix of humor and recklessness in his past actions.
