Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, has issued an apology to his family for a Super Bowl advertisement that he says was created and aired without his knowledge or approval by the American Values Super PAC. Kennedy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his remorse and emphasize that the ad was not connected to his campaign.

In his post, Kennedy expressed his regret if the Super Bowl advertisement caused any pain to his family. He clarified that according to FEC rules, Super PACs are prohibited from consulting with him or his staff, highlighting the lack of association between his campaign and the ad. Kennedy concluded the post with a message of love and blessings to his family.

Kennedy's independent presidential bid has been marked by controversy, primarily due to his role as a prominent leader in the anti-vaccine movement and his promotion of baseless conspiracy theories. Initially, Kennedy had announced his intention to challenge President Biden for the Democratic nomination but later decided to run as an Independent candidate.

The Super Bowl ad, which remains pinned at the top of Kennedy's X page, features the song "Kennedy for Me" from his uncle's 1960 presidential campaign. The original black and white footage has been colorized, and images of Kennedy himself have been added. The advertisement was funded by Kennedy's PAC, American Values 2024, at a cost of $7 million for its airing during the Super Bowl.

Tony Lyons, co-founder of the American Values Super PAC, defended Kennedy's candidacy in a statement to NPR, calling him a corruption-fighter in the same vein as his uncle and father. Lyons criticized the Democratic National Committee (DNC), suggesting that they are using old and new tactics to impede Kennedy's progress. The DNC recently filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging campaign finance law violations by Kennedy's super PAC.

Despite the controversy and opposition, Kennedy's independent presidential bid continues, albeit as a longshot. Political experts warn that his candidacy could potentially divert votes away from the eventual Democratic and Republican candidates. Recent polling from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist indicates that Kennedy's support predominantly comes from Trump-aligned voters, potentially benefiting President Biden.

The Kennedy family, historically associated with the Democratic party, has openly disapproved of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential bid. Instead, they have pledged their support to President Biden's re-election campaign.

As the presidential race continues, it remains to be seen how Kennedy's independent candidacy will impact the overall dynamics of the election and whether his controversial stance on vaccines will have a lasting effect on his campaign.