Cheryl Hines sends a pithy message to husband RFK Jr. after he writes a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Ethel, following her death at 96

Cheryl Hines offered a brief public message of support to her grieving husband amid ongoing uncertainty over the state of their marriage, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The actress was one of many to comment on a lengthy statement posted to Instagram by Robert F Kennedy Jr following the death of his mother Ethel on Thursday aged 96.

Amid hundreds of comments, Hines’ tribute simply said, ‘This is beautiful. Your mother was very proud that you finished with a white heart emoji, symbolizing her support for the mourners.

Last week, Hines and Kennedy were spotted together for the first time since his alleged affair with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi left the actress shocked and blindsided, rocking the couple’s ten-year marriage.

RKF Jr noted that his mother passed away surrounded by many of her nine children and friends and noted that she “squeezed joy out of every moment” of her life

Hines’ very circumspect comment only fueled rumors that the couple had barely spoken in person in recent weeks.

Kennedy wrote that her mother ‘spoke longingly of the day she would be reunited with her husband’

Members of the Kennedy family, including Ethel’s son Max and daughter Rory, began gathering at the family compound in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, ahead of Ethel’s funeral.

In her post, Kennedy, 70, praised her mother’s “rich and busy life.” He noted that she had passed away surrounded by many of her nine children and friends and noted that she “took joy from every moment” of her life.

But for the past 56 years, Kennedy wrote, his mother had “spoken longingly of the day she would be reunited with her husband” by assassinating former Attorney General Bobby Kennedy.

However, as heartfelt as her words were, considering her husband’s candid statements, Hines’ very circumspect comment only fueled rumors that the couple had barely spoken in person in recent weeks.

Far from presenting a united face amid their shared grief over Ethel’s death, Hines and Kennedy merely posted separate responses on their social media feeds.

Writing on her own Instagram, Hines recalled her mother-in-law as a woman with “charisma, wisdom and strength.” But when she offered her love, it was not to her supposedly rebellious husband, but, more globally, “to the family.”

Hines said in her tribute to her late mother-in-law that her love was not with her husband, but with her family.

Last week, Hines and Kennedy were spotted together for the first time since her alleged phone sex affair with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi left the actress shocked and blindsided, rocking the couple’s ten-year marriage.

They were seen stopping for a quick Starbucks near the Malibu home where Nuzzi met Kennedy when she went to interview him for a New York magazine article.

Hines kept her look casual, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. Her face was impossible to read behind the large sunglasses she wore, but there was no hiding the telling detail that she was, as she has been lately, ringless. However, Kennedy was wearing his ring when he was photographed by DailyMail.com in California on Thursday.

RFK Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines were spotted stopping for a quick Starbucks near their Malibu home

Hines kept her look casual, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. It was impossible to read her face behind the large sunglasses she wore, but she was not wearing a ring, as has often been seen lately.

Bobby Kennedy Jr. was still wearing his ring when he was photographed in Los Angeles on Thursday following his mother’s death

Ethel’s death could delay Hines’ next steps, but DailyMail.com revealed last week that close friends hope she files for divorce.

The actress, whose relationship with Kennedy came at considerable personal cost thanks to her often bizarre views and public support for Donald Trump, was left reeling last month when it emerged that Kennedy had allegedly had a sexting affair with the 31-year-old. . political correspondent for New York magazine.

Kennedy claimed the two met only once, when Nuzzi interviewed him in California.

The plot took another turn when Nuzzi’s ex-fiance, DC Politico correspondent Ryan Lizza, 50, was accused of blackmailing his ex by threatening to make public compromising photos and texts she had exchanged with Kennedy.

Nuzzi lost her job – at least temporarily – when she was placed on administrative leave following the relationship’s exposure.

Kennedy could be about to lose a lot more.

But for now, all the focus is on celebrating Ethel’s life, with her children and grandchildren flooding the internet with tributes and photographs to a woman they paint as a force of nature and creation.

Kerry shared many tender memories of her mother Ethel on Instagram

Ethel’s daughter Kerry, 65, posted a photo of herself and her mother sitting in a golf cart and captioned it simply: ‘Mommy’

“Mom’s spirit shining through our home tonight,” Kerry said on Instagram as a beautiful red painted the sky

All focus is on celebrating Ethel’s life, with her children and grandchildren flooding the internet with tributes and photographs to a woman they paint as a force of nature and creation.

On Thursday, Ethel’s daughter Kerry, 65, posted a photo of their Cape Cod home under a red and purple sky and captioned it: “Mom’s spirit shining through our house tonight.” Ex-husband and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, 66, responded: “Your mom is letting you know she’s in heaven.”

Kerry and Cuomo’s daughter, Michaela, 27, posted her own memories of her grandmother showing fun photos of Ethel with her granddaughters playing in a pool in West Palm Beach.

Another showed Ethel dressed as a hippie John Lennon look-alike, with a long dark wig and pink sunglasses. Elsewhere, Kerry posted a photo of herself and her mother sitting in a golf cart and captioned it simply: ‘Mommy.’