RFK Jr distances himself from campaign ad, apologizes for pain caused to his family despite the fact he pinned ad to his X profile

On Sunday, Robert F Kennedy Jr issued a public apology after members of his extended family expressed their displeasure with a commercial created by a super PAC supporting the independent presidential candidate that aired during the Super Bowl.

The ad was a nearly shot-for-shot remake of one released to promote John F Kennedy during his 1960 campaign.

"I'm so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain," Kennedy wrote in a post on X. "The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you."

Just hours earlier, Kennedy's cousin Bobby Shriver grilled him over the ad.

"My cousin's Super Bowl ad used our uncle's faces- and my Mother's," he wrote. "She would be appalled by his deadly health care views. Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA. She strongly supported my health care work at [the ONE Campaign] & [RED] which he opposes."

"I agree with my brother," Mark Shriver added.

Before issuing the public statement, Kennedy replied to Shriver's post, sending him and his family his "sincerest apologies."

Despite repeatedly saying sorry for the ad, the clip is still the pinned post on Kennedy's X profile.

"Our momentum is growing," his caption reads. "It's time for an Independent President to heal the divide in our country."

In both the new and old ads, a chorus of voices chants "Kennedy" while showing signs with the candidate's name on them and members of the family. Everywhere JFK appears in the original, RFK Jr takes his place in the remake.

As the Daily Mail reports, the American Values Super PAC paid around $7 million to have the ad air during the Super Bowl.