In a twist that could only be described as surreal, a seemingly absurd joke circulating on social media turned out to be disturbingly true. The revelation that presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had once harbored a literal brain worm sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
According to a report by The New York Times, in 2012, doctors made a chilling discovery during Kennedy’s medical examination: a dead parasite nestled in his brain. Kennedy himself confirmed the grim diagnosis, stating in a deposition that the dark spot on his medical scan was the aftermath of a worm that had invaded his brain, consumed a portion of it, and then perished.
The interesting part of the RFK brainworm story is that literally no one who read it said, “No way.”
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 8, 2024
The context in which this unsettling revelation surfaced adds another layer of intrigue. The deposition in question was part of Kennedy’s divorce proceedings from his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy. At that time, Kennedy was attributing his diminished earning capacity to the “cognitive struggles” induced by the presence of the brain worm.
Ordinarily, such bizarre news would elicit a flurry of mockery and ridicule on social media. However, the response to Kennedy’s revelation was more one of incredulity than amusement. Users expressed astonishment at the surreal nature of the revelation, with many remarking that they had never expected their tongue-in-cheek comments about Kennedy having “brain worms” to be validated in such a literal manner.
The reason we know that RFK Jr. had a brainworm is that he said explained it during his divorce proceedings to make the case that his earning potential had been reduced by brain damage.
Twelve years later, he wants to be president. https://t.co/yYp7j01lI7 pic.twitter.com/Y3gQnGOiUO
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) May 8, 2024
NATIONAL MEDIA: “The key question voters are asking this election is whether Biden’s brain works”
TRUMP: *incoherent rambling*
RFK: “Speaking of brains, mine gotten eaten by a worm” pic.twitter.com/cqUzOU9W3h
— Will Stancil (@whstancil) May 8, 2024
Political consultant Rick Wilson aptly captured the general sentiment by highlighting the sheer disbelief surrounding the story. Even comedian Michael Ian Black couldn’t concoct a joke funnier than the bizarre reality of Kennedy’s brain worm ordeal.
Despite Kennedy’s assurance that he has fully recovered from the cognitive impairments caused by the parasite, questions linger about the potential implications for his presidential ambitions. When pressed about the impact of his health issues on his competency as a presidential candidate, his campaign representative dismissed the notion as ludicrous, citing the absurdity of the political landscape.
The revelation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s encounter with a brain worm serves as a surreal reminder of the unpredictable twists and turns of the political arena. As the public grapples with this peculiar revelation, one thing remains certain: in the realm of politics, truth is often stranger than fiction.
