You Won’t Believe Robert F. Kennedy’s Gross Hygiene Habit

As the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s health-related opinions and behaviors are often the subject of public scrutiny. (Of course, he isn’t alone, as there are many examples of politicians with questionable personal hygiene habits.)

With that said, he has found himself in hot water on numerous occasions, even before he started serving under the Trump administration. One recent example took place in November 2023, when a political commentator, Justin Haskins, snapped a photo of Kennedy (who was then running as an independent presidential candidate) walking down the first class aisle of an airplane — which ordinarily wouldn’t be a problem, except Kennedy didn’t have any shoes on. The photo went viral, and the ensuing uproar made it clear that many were disgusted by this display.

Days after he was called out for his barefoot behavior, Kennedy sent a video apology to TMZ: “I want to thank you for all that you do to keep politicians honest, to make sure that they comply with all the norms of our society. Even for me for calling me out for going barefoot on an airplane.” Near the end, after Kennedy promises that it would never happen again, the camera zooms out to reveal that he’s sitting smugly in an airport terminal — barefoot, of course. (This is the medical reason that explains Kennedy’s voice.)

As it turns out, the health risks of walking barefoot on a plane justify calling out this foot faux pas.

If the idea of someone walking barefoot down the aisle of a plane gives you the ick, don’t worry — you’re not just being overly sensitive. Think about how many people walk up and down that floor, and where they (and their footwear) were prior to the flight. It’s inevitable that all manner of fungi, bacteria, and other pathogenic organisms would end up becoming your co-passengers. 

What’s more, there is barely enough time for the cabin crew to clean those floors properly between flights — which means even a quick walk without your shoes on increases your risk of various foot diseases, especially if there are scratches or wounds on your feet that could serve as entry points for pathogens.

It’s even worse when you walk to and from the airplane lavatory without your footwear, like what Kennedy was doing when that infamous pic was taken. “Airplane lavatories are used frequently by many passengers during flights, leading to high-touch surfaces such as door handles, flush buttons, sink faucets, and toilet seats becoming contaminated with various pathogens,” infectious disease expert Dr. Dahlia Philips explained to HuffPost. Airplane crew members have observed many passengers engaging in such behavior, and discourage it, because… well, as commercial flight attendant Elizabeth Regan put it, “During our training, we learned that the liquid on the lavatory floor is often more than just water.” Yeah. Gross.

Not only is it wise to never take your shoes off on an airplane, but it also makes it less likely to earn you the ire of your co-passengers. In 2020, Jetstar shared the results of its survey, in which more than 20,000 passengers expressed disgust at the notion of people walking around airports or planes sans footwear.

“Taking your shoes off in crowded spaces is off-putting to others,” explained Zarife Hardy, director of the Australian School of Etiquette, who called it an “impolite” practice. “The number one rule of etiquette is making others feel comfortable in your presence, not wearing shoes makes others feel uncomfortable.”

And there’s a very good reason why it’s wise to just keep your shoes on, especially when you’re about to board your plane: Many major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines, have strict policies against letting barefoot people travel on their planes.

With that said, it doesn’t mean that you can never, ever take off your shoes once you’ve taken flight. According to Zariffe, it should be fine to let your feet breathe when you’re on long, international flights. As for walking around barefoot: That’s up to you — but after everything you’ve read here, would you still want to do that?