Report Details Fallout Between Michelle Obama And Cheryl Hines
Michelle Obama has been out of the White House for years, but politics still appears to follow her into her post-Washington life. The former first lady now works in entertainment alongside her husband through Higher Ground, the production company the Obamas founded after leaving the White House. But according to a report from the U.K.’s […]
Michelle Obama has been out of the White House for years, but politics still appears to follow her into her post-Washington life.
The former first lady now works in entertainment alongside her husband through Higher Ground, the production company the Obamas founded after leaving the White House. But according to a report from the U.K.’s Daily Mail, that world may not be quite as detached from political score-settling as it seems.
The newspaper reported that Michelle Obama used her influence to keep actress Cheryl Hines, the wife of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., away from a new Higher Ground project involving Larry David.
That would be notable under any circumstances, but especially because Hines and David have a long professional history. Hines played David’s wife on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” the HBO comedy that ran for 12 seasons and made her closely associated with his work.
The new project, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America,” is a seven-part sketch series that debuted June 26. The series, timed around America’s 250th birthday, is meant to take a comedic look at the country’s history. But the reported dispute behind the scenes does not sound especially lighthearted.
The Daily Mail, citing unnamed sources close to the production, reported that Michelle Obama made it clear Hines was not welcome because of her connection to Kennedy and, by extension, the Trump administration.
One source told the outlet that Hines was “devastated” by the decision. According to the report, Hines had hoped to work with David again after their years together on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
“Cheryl felt terribly hurt and emotionally injured because she had worked so closely with Larry for the entire 12 seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and they had become like bosom buddies,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
The source said Hines believed David, despite his well-known opposition to Trump, might be able to separate politics from their working relationship.
“But banning Cheryl was a command from Michelle that Larry could not go against, even if he had wanted to, for old time’s sake,” the insider reportedly said.