Celebrities with a personal connection to autism are speaking out after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made controversial claims about the disorder.
After a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that autism rates in United States kids has risen, Kennedy — who serves as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services — spoke out about what those on the spectrum could experience.
He noted that autism “destroys families” and some autistic children will “never pay taxes, never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
Actress and autism advocate Holly Robinson Peete saw the clip online and quickly spoke out.
Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Jenny McCarthy and other celebrities haven’t shied away from speaking about the ups and downs of raising their autistic children. The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star revealed her and Roger Mathews’ son Greyson’s diagnosis in November 2018, which “caused a lot of tension” in her relationship with her now-ex-husband. “I took the […]
“My 27-year-old son with autism didn’t ‘destroy our family,’” she wrote via X on April 16. “He gave us purpose and unity… oh, and he pays taxes.”
Others including Rosie O’Donnell and The Valley star Brittany Cartwright soon followed with their own comments.
On April 17, Kennedy addressed the backlash to his comments made during Autism Acceptance Month, telling Fox News’ Sean Hannity he was referring to the “more than 25 percent of people who have severe autism” in his remarks.
“Bottom line, the more than 25 percent of people who have severe autism will never go on a date, write a poem, live independently, or have a job,” he said via Instagram. “We need to identify the exposures that are causing this epidemic and compensate the families of the injured. @hhsgov under my leadership, will be unrelenting in assisting affected individuals in living up to all their potentials.”
Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete remain grateful for their unbreakable bond. Nearly 23 years after the couple first learned their son, RJ Peete, was diagnosed with autism, both parents are proud of navigating the highs and lows together. “The divorce rate when you have a child on the spectrum is over 60, 70 percent,” […]
Keep reading to see what more celebrities impacted by autism shared after Kennedy’s remarks:
Brittany Cartwright
After sharing her son’s autism diagnosis, the former Vanderpump Rules star — who shares 4-year-old Cruz with ex Jax Taylor — was grateful that Kennedy was bringing awareness to the disorder. At the same time, she didn’t agree with everything he said.
“He said that autism destroys families,” she shared on the April 18 episode of her “When Reality Hits” podcast. “He listed a bunch of things that kids with autism or people on the spectrum in general do not do. And that really upset me because the autism spectrum is so broad.”
“That just kind of rubbed me the wrong way a little bit,” she continued. “It kind of made me sad because it’s just such a public platform and misinformation is a big deal.”
Holly Robinson Peete
The 21 Jump Street actress — who also created the HollyRod Foundation with her husband Rodney Peete to bring support and awareness to autism families — sounded off on Kennedy’s comments online.
“Fun fact: #autism does NOT destroy families,” she wrote via Instagram on April 18. “But families need: To be spoken of with respect and dignity. Access to diagnosis, services, and interventions. Community support, compassion and acceptance. INCLUSION. Employment opportunities #hollyrodfoundation.”
Peete reminded followers that her son RJ has a full-time job with the Los Angeles Dodgers and continues to thrive in society.
“Thousands and thousands of families fight every day with their kids to be able to function in a society that does not accept them,” she wrote via X on April 21. “[Kennedy] should speak about helping — not hopelessness.”
Rosie O’Donnell
As the comedian and actress continues raising her 12-year-old child Clay, who is autistic, O’Donnell said Kennedy is “grossly uninformed about autism.”
“My child clay odonnell has not destroyed my family. She had added overwhelming joy [and] taught us all patience and compassion,” O’Donnell wrote via Instagram on April 20. “She has written poems, gone on dates, uses the bathroom unassisted and baseball bores her to death. Bobby Kennedy’s idea of a life of value is pathetically sad, immature and ignorant. He should be ashamed.”
