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Holly Robinson Peete Speaks Out For Families Impacted by Autism Amid New Controversy
Longtime Hallmark star and autism rights advocate Holly Robinson Peete is speaking up after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked controversy on April 16, 2025, with his remarks about kids on the autism spectrum. Two nights later, during an Instagram Live session viewed by EntertainmentNOW, Robinson Peete said “autism is not political” and that she advocates for families with kids on the autism spectrum, regardless of where they stand on the political spectrum.
Speaking at a news conference about the rising rate of autism diagnoses in the U.S., Kennedy made multiple points that drew “fierce backlash” from the autism community, per People, including claiming that kids with autism “will never pay taxes” and that “autism destroys families.”
Robinson Peete, one of Hollywood’s most vocal advocates for families impacted by autism, immediately took issue with Kennedy’s comments, refuting many of his points on social media. The actress has four kids with her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, including their 27-year-old son RJ, who is on the autism spectrum and works as a beloved clubhouse attendant for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After appearing on CNN on April 18 to discuss Kennedy’s claims and share her experience raising a son with autism, Robinson Peete wrote on Instagram, “I am just one autism mom and I don’t claim to speak for all of us as we all have different journeys but what I do know for sure is NO ONE is allowed to dictate your child’s future and steal hope from you!”
Holly Robinson Peete Says Her Son on the Autism Spectrum is Thriving & ‘Does Pay Taxes’
During his first press conference since being confirmed in February as President Donald Trump’s new HHS Secretary, Kennedy highlighted a new CDC study that says 3% of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism, per People. Calling it an “epidemic,” Kennedy vowed to find the “environmental causes” for “relentless increases” of autism cases.
In her interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on April 18, Robinson Peete said she has no problem with research that might help pinpoint factors contributing to autism, but took issue with many of Kennedy’s comments — including calling the brain disorder a “preventable disease” and listing out things he thought kids on the spectrum would never achieve.
“Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children,” Kennedy said during his press conference. “These are children who should not be suffering like this. These are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
In response, Robinson Peete told Tapper, “When RJ was diagnosed in 2000, we were given a list of ‘nevers’ — he would never say ‘I love you,’ he would never mainstream in school, he would never play team sports … never do so many things, never have meaningful employment. And so we call that the ‘Never Day’ and when I heard (Kennedy’s) list of nevers, I was taken right back to that day.”
She continued, “I just thought it was such a wasteful and dangerous use of a platform to talk about these children — and adults, my son’s an adult — as if they’re just disposable, as if they are a blight on society, and it felt like institutionalized hopelessness.”
Robinson Peete also noted that her son RJ “does pay taxes” and “has checked almost everything off that ‘never list” outside of dating. But through her HollyRod Foundation, she said she works closely with families across the U.S. who “need a lot more support” to help their own children thrive.
Fans & Friends Are Thanking Holly Robinson Peete For Speaking Out
Friends, fans and fellow autism parents have rallied around Robinson Peete, who co-stars in Hallmark’s “Hats Off to Love” on May 3. Thousands have left comments on her posts to express their gratitude.
Fellow Hallmark actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley wrote, “You inspire me Holly-thanks for speaking out. ❤️❤️”
Another Hallmark colleague, actress Nikki DeLoach, commented, “Bravo!!!! Well done. You are a light and a force. ❤️”
Among the many autism parents who have chimed in, one wrote, “Thank you so much for speaking up about this issue for all of our benefits. I’m so proud of my autistic loved ones, and the community of love and support we all have right here. We’re in this together! We’re stronger together! 👏👏👏💙💙💙”
Another commented, “👏👏👏 so proud to have you fighting for our community. Thank you Holly! Very well said. 🧩 💙”
After posting her CNN interview on Instagram, Robinson Peete wrote in the comment section, “Now you guys know that it was hard for me to keep my cool because I’ve been so upset about this, 🤬but I just want to advocate for all the beautiful families that we serve and have met and touched us throughout the years!! We all have different issues and we all need different levels of support but one thing we’re not gonna do is allow our children to be diminished in value and robbed of possibilities on our watch!!!”
