Chelsea Handler paints herself as a “victim,” claiming the Los Angeles mansion she bought from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines is a money pit — but sources told Page Six she’s just using it as an opportunity to “malign and discredit” the couple.
The lefty comic claimed the US Secretary of Health and Human Services and his actress wife sold her a “toxic” house in the swanky Brentwood neighborhood — and now jokes she has probably got “chlamydia, measles and herpes” from 72-year-old Kennedy.
But insiders familiar with the situation argue that it was up to Handler to raise any “red flags” when she snapped up the property back in October 2021 for $5.9 million.
Chelsea Handler claimed Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines left their home in a “toxic” mess when she bought it. Getty Images
“Chelsea victimized herself,” one source told us. “She pulled the trigger on a $6 million house, and it was her responsibility and her inspector’s [to raise issues]. Why is she waiting five years later to bring it up?”
The source believes Handler is striking out because “she doesn’t care for the [Trump] administration — she hates Trump and anyone associated with him, that’s the reason.”
Handler, 51, insisted Kennedy and Hines had left the circa-1937 home, which they owned for four years, in such a state of disrepair that she was unable to move in — saying on her “Dear Chelsea” podcast earlier this month, “I still have not lived in this house. That’s how f–ked up this house was.”
A source familiar with the Handler house deal said it was up to the comic and her inspector to raise any “red flags”. Getty Images
But nobody “put a gun to her head” to complete the purchase, said the source, insisting, “Any issues with the property were only discovered as Chelsea’s team started to tear down walls for a major remodel. It’s an older house, and she had every opportunity to check it out.”
Handler also said that she only found out who the previous owners were when “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Hines, 60, left her a letter at the house.
“Cheryl Hines sent me a note saying ‘Thank you, we’re so excited you bought our house. Let us know if there’s anything we can do,’” Handler said on her podcast. “And I was like, ‘Oh no! I bought RFK Jr.’s house?’ Like the one person in the world that I would flag whose house not to buy.”
Handler bought Kennedy and Hines’ house in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles for $5.9 million back in October 2021— but only recently moved in due to a torrent of issues, the comedian said. Google Maps
Handler’s home was covered with scaffolding last September. Google maps
The source said, “It was a beautiful handwritten note wishing someone good luck with their life in their new house… It’s not like Cheryl and Bobby were trying to offload some toxic house — that didn’t happen.
“Everything Chelsea has said paints herself as the victim,” the source added. “People can’t afford gas and groceries, and you think people are going to feel sorry for you.”
Despite Handler’s complaints, the five-bed, six-bathroom property has apparently already gone up in value, with Zillow reporting it’s worth a whopping $8 million.
Handler, meanwhile, continued to poke fun at the house sale during a Tuesday appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Handler joked to Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday she has probably got “chlamydia, measles and herpes” from health secretary Kennedy having lived in the house.
Handler revealed she has just moved into her home, four years after buying it.
“It took me four years to move in,” she said. “There [were] a lot of problems with the house — I blame [Kennedy] — and that didn’t get caught during inspection. And a lot of drama with the house. But I did just move in for the first time yesterday. So, I’m good.
“I mean, I have chlamydia, herpes, and what else does he have?” Handler joked of Kennedy, 72. “Oh, measles. I have chlamydia, measles and herpes.”
Handler has previously said that President Trump’s 2016 election triggered deep distress similar to the loss of a family member, leading her to therapy – and said she had even pondered a move to Spain.
On her podcast, Handler claimed that engineers “opened up the house” and told her, “‘This house is the most toxic environment. You cannot live here for at least two years.’
Sources insisted that Hines and Kennedy would never have sold a “toxic” property. Getty Images
“I’m not exaggerating. It was a disaster, and I didn’t know it going in … ,” she said on her podcast, claiming that at east three people told her the home was “cursed.”
We have reached out to Handler, Kennedy and Hines for comment.
Rick Tyberg of Tyberg Duffy Group, Douglas Elliman, told Page Six that a “general inspection” is just a starting point when buying a house.
“What really matters is knowing when to bring in the right specialists, whether that’s for water intrusion, mold, foundation issues, drainage or anything else that raises a flag,” he said.
“Some of these issues are serious and, more importantly, they’re often open-ended. What looks manageable on the surface can quickly turn into something extremely expensive or worse, something that follows the buyers financially long after they close,” Tyberg said.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about getting into a home, it’s about making sure it’s the right one, on the right terms, with no surprises waiting for you after you close.”