Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has once again drawn attention with an unusual story, this time revealing that he once left a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park. The independent U.S. presidential candidate and controversial figure shared this peculiar anecdote in a video posted on social media, presumably to preempt a forthcoming New Yorker magazine article that will cover this strange episode from his past.
In the video, recorded in a casual setting with figures such as actress Roseanne Barr, Robert F. Kennedy recounted the event that occurred a decade ago. He explained that during a falconing trip in New York state in 2014, a van in front of him struck and killed a six-month-old black bear. Enthusiastic about salvaging the bear for its meat, Kennedy took the animal’s carcass and placed it in his vehicle. According to Kennedy, it is permissible in New York state to collect roadkill if one obtains a bear tag.
However, the falconing trip extended later than expected, and Robert F. Kennedy’s subsequent plans for the evening, including a dinner in New York City, prevented him from transporting the bear back to his home in Westchester County. Faced with the dilemma of what to do with the dead bear, Robert F. Kennedy and his companions decided to leave it in Central Park, hiding it under an old bicycle he had in his car. The group devised a plan to make it appear as though the bear had been killed by a cyclist.
Robert F. Kennedy, who humorously described the situation as a reflection of his “redneck” side, admitted that the decision seemed absurd in retrospect. He expressed concern about the discovery of his fingerprints on the bicycle when the bear’s body was eventually found. The incident attracted significant media attention when it occurred, though Robert F. Kennedy had kept it quiet until now.
The story remained under wraps until a fact-checker from The New Yorker reached out to verify the account for an upcoming feature on Robert F. Kennedy. Despite the years that have passed, Robert F. Kennedy braced himself for the renewed scrutiny, acknowledging that the tale would make for an unflattering story.
