RFK Jr reveals he used to 'snort cocaine off of toilet seats' in unexpected confession
A candid podcast moment reveals a little too much
Ben Williams
Public figures opening up about their past struggles is nothing new, but every so often, a candid moment catches people completely off guard, and RFK Jr might have raised the bar.
Podcasts, in particular, have become a space where politicians and celebrities seem more relaxed, often sharing stories they might never mention in a formal interview. When those particular conversations drift into personal history, things can quickly take an unexpected turn.
That’s exactly what happened during a recent appearance by US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who sat down with comedian and podcaster Theo Von, on his show This Past Weekend with Theo Von.
The pair reportedly discussed everything from recovery to life after addiction, reflecting on the ways their past experiences continue to shape their present-day routines. Listeners tuning in might have expected a reflective conversation about sobriety, but few anticipated the headline-grabbing moment that soon followed.
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During the chat, Kennedy made a startling admission about his former lifestyle while speaking about germs and resilience. With the specific moment shared across social media platforms like Reddit, he said: "I'm not scared of a germ... I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats."
Kennedy, who has previously spoken publicly about addiction, framed the comment within a broader discussion about recovery and the effort it takes to stay sober. Reflecting on his experience, he added: "I know this disease will kill me…Like, if I don't, if I don't treat it, which means for me going to meetings every day. It's just bad for my life."
The confession prompted backlash from some corners, with healthcare advocacy group Protect Our Care calling for him to step down. Reported by Sky News, its president, Brad Woodhouse, responded with a blunt statement: "Resign." Meanwhile, Democratic representative Malcolm Kenyatta shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "For some reason I don't trust this guy on public health."
Despite the criticism, Kennedy has long been open about his past struggles, often linking them to difficult periods in his life, including the aftermath of his father’s assassination. He has spoken about arrests for drug-related offences in the 1970s and 1980s, and has credited later experiences with helping him turn toward sobriety.
On the other hand, none of this should be too surprising, since Kennedy has demonstrated multiple times how he is not what you would expect of a US health secretary. After all, along with being a sceptic about vaccines, he has repeatedly spread misinformation about vaccines in general.
At one point, Kennedy even went far enough to say that people with autism can never ‘never hold a job or date’ in a previous rant.