The grandson of President John F. Kennedy this week criticized his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running for president, in a series of humorous videos that were quite out of character for the Kennedy family, sparking a feud within the political dynasty.
In these Instagram posts, Jack Schlossberg, 31, called Mr. Kennedy, 70, names, implied he was using steroids, accused him of lying, and painted him as a Russian puppet and a proxy for Donald J. Trump.
However, what stood out to viewers were the exaggerated accents used by Schlossberg to make his points.
He mimicked a Massachusetts Kennedy fan named Jimmy, sounding like Ben Affleck in a Dunkin’ Donuts ad.
“You know, I’m a fan of his father,” said Schlossberg as Jimmy. “And you know his uncle? Rest in peace, I remember where I was the day he was killed, I mean it was a tragic day, the entire country wept. But listen, that guy, he’s a prick. The new guy, the young guy, he’s a friggin prick.”
He also impersonated a southerner named Wade who raises horses and expressed concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s stance on the military.
Another impression was that of an older New York Jewish man named Joshua, who voiced his worries about Mr. Kennedy’s plans regarding the Federal Reserve.
This departure from the traditional Kennedy image was a surprising move by Schlossberg, hinting at his own potential political aspirations.
Schlossberg has been a supporter of President Biden and has publicly criticized his cousin’s presidential campaign in the past.
The videos by Schlossberg, filmed in a tropical setting, underscore the division within the Kennedy family regarding their political legacy.
While Schlossberg has displayed a willingness to take comedic risks, his humor has received mixed reactions from the public.
Despite some criticism, Schlossberg defended his character portrayals, stating that they were not meant to offend anyone.
In his apology videos, Schlossberg clarified that his accents were not intended to mock anyone, emphasizing that he is Jewish and grew up in New York City.
He explained that these characters help him cope and are not meant to be disrespectful.
