Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stirred controversy during a visit to West Virginia on Friday as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, taking direct aim at the state’s obesity crisis by publicly fat-shaming Governor Patrick Morrisey.
Speaking at an event celebrating West Virginia’s new law banning certain food dyes, Kennedy took the opportunity to mock Morrisey’s weight, telling the crowd he had told the governor, “You look like you ate Governor Morrisey,” during their first meeting in Florida.
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According to Newsweek, Kennedy, who currently serves as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, didn’t stop there. He claimed he encouraged Morrisey to lose 30 pounds and proposed a monthly “public weigh-in” to track the governor’s progress.
“There was a lot of talk about getting healthy again, and I’m very happy that he’s invited me to be his personal trainer,” Kennedy joked, prompting laughter from the crowd. He continued to pile on the comments, saying, “We’re going to put him on a really rigorous regimen,” according to Daily Mail. “And we’re going to put him on a carnivore diet.”
Kennedy then turned to the audience for support: “Raise your hand if you want Governor Morrisey to do a public weigh-in once a month,” he asked, drawing reactions from the crowd. “Then, when he’s lost 30 pounds, I’m going to come back to this state and do a celebration and a public weigh-in with him.”
Addressing Morrisey’s wife directly, he added with a smile, “You’re welcome, Denise.” Governor Morrisey, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, appeared to take the comments in stride, responding, “That may be a little more than I bargained for.”
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While Kennedy framed his remarks in the context of promoting public health, his comments have drawn criticism for their personal nature. West Virginia currently has the highest adult obesity rate in the country, with a prevalence of 41 percent—a serious public health issue that Kennedy has vowed to address.
However, critics argue that body-shaming public figures is not the path to meaningful health reform. As the debate continues, Kennedy’s controversial rhetoric is sparking national attention—and raising questions about the tone of his health-focused campaign.
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