Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Admits to Placing Dead Bear Cub in Central Park

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Admits to Placing Dead Bear Cub in Central Park

3 minute read
Published: 8/6/2024

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confessed in a conversation with Roseanne Barr that he placed the dead bear cub in Central Park 10 years ago to make it look like a bicyclist had struck the animal.

During a discussion with Roseanne Barr that surfaced on social media, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed his involvement in a bizarre incident a decade ago involving a dead bear cub found in Central Park. Kennedy recounted that after a woman struck the bear with her van, he left it in the park beside an old bicycle, intending to create the illusion of a cyclist accident. The stunt, which he admitted was meant to amuse and preempt a forthcoming New Yorker article, sparked public intrigue and police investigations at the time.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confessed in a conversation with Roseanne Barr that he placed the dead bear cub in Central Park 10 years ago to make it look like a bicyclist had struck the animal.

During a discussion with Roseanne Barr that surfaced on social media, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed his involvement in a bizarre incident a decade ago involving a dead bear cub found in Central Park. Kennedy recounted that after a woman struck the bear with her van in upstate New York, he initially intended to skin the bear and store its meat but later decided to leave it in Central Park due to time constraints. Kennedy placed the dead bear next to an old bicycle, thinking it would amuse people. The incident received significant media attention and led to police investigations at the time.

In the conversation, Kennedy detailed that the bear was killed by a woman driving a van while he was traveling in upstate New York. Instead of notifying authorities or disposing of the bear properly, Kennedy initially had intentions of skinning the bear and storing its meat in his refrigerator.

However, due to a prolonged dinner engagement and the necessity to catch a flight, Kennedy decided to abandon his plans. He found it more convenient to leave the bear in Central Park. To add an element of humor for those who might discover the carcass, he placed it next to an old bicycle to suggest a fictional collision between the bear and a cyclist.

Kennedy's actions were not conducted in isolation. He and his acquaintances, misunderstanding the potential gravity of the situation, thought that the act would amuse people. The decision to leave the bear in such a manner was even entertained by individuals at Peter Luger Steakhouse.

The incident did not go unnoticed. When the dead bear cub was discovered in Central Park, it led to immediate police investigations and extensive media coverage. The unusual display captured public attention and bewildered many.

Tatiana Schlossberg, Kennedy's second cousin, reported on the 2014 incident in the New York Times, adding another layer of complexity and familial connection to the story. The narrative around the bear’s death and its peculiar placement in Central Park was closely examined.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation later confirmed that the cause of the bear's death was consistent with a motor vehicle collision, corroborating Kennedy's account of the initial incident involving the woman’s van.

Kennedy’s revelation in the conversation with Roseanne Barr was also a strategic move. He admitted that he decided to come forward with this information to preempt a story about the event that was expected to be published by The New Yorker. By releasing the details himself, Kennedy aimed to control the narrative and perhaps mitigate the impact of the upcoming article.

This confession brings to light not only an unusual incident from a decade ago but also raises questions about the motivations and thought process behind such actions. The incident, at its core, was an attempt at humor that backfired, leading to unexpected consequences and significant media scrutiny.