Robert Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate in the U.S. presidential election, has been embroiled in a controversy over dog meat consumption.
According to Vanity Fair, an American entertainment magazine on July 4, Kennedy Jr. sent a friend a photo last year of him and a woman holding and seemingly about to eat a whole roasted animal.
Vanity Fair reported that the photo, taken in 2010, suggested that Kennedy Jr. implied he had eaten dog meat. He told a friend planning a trip to Asia that he knew the best restaurant in Korea that sells edible dogs.
Vanity Fair commented, “The intention of the photo appears to be humorous, but it reveals Kennedy’s lack of common sense and poor judgment,” directly criticizing him. They added, “Kennedy mocked Korean culture and exposed his cruel thoughts towards animals,” adding, “He jeopardized the reputation of himself and his family.”
In response to the controversy, Kennedy Jr. publicly explained, “The photo was taken in Patagonia and shows roasted goat.”
However, the friend who received the text refuted this, stating, “Kennedy recommended that I visit the best dog meat restaurant in Seoul and sent the photo,” emphasizing, “It was a dog, not a goat.” The friend added, “In any case, it’s a bizarre incident.”
Meanwhile, Kennedy Jr., the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, insisted on running as an independent candidacy despite the majority of his family’s opposition. He currently maintains a support rate of around 10% in opinion polls.
