“I mean, it’s no crazier than any of the other s--- he’s done,” said the comedian who played Tobias Fünke on the series.

David Cross addresses RFK Jr. Arrested Development never-nude comparisons

"I mean, it's no crazier than any of the other s--- he's done," said the comedian who played Tobias Fünke on the series.

By Kathleen Perricone

June 4, 2026 9:38 p.m. ET

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RFK Jr.; David Cross as Tobias Fünke on 'Arrested Development'. Credit:

RFK Jr./Instagram; Fox

- David Cross addressed the viral comparisons between his *Arrested Development *character, Tobias Fünke, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who exercises in jeans.

- Fünke was famously a "never-nude" who wore jean shorts at all times on the TV series.

- "That's a weird thing," Cross commented. "He seems like that kind of guy."

What would Tobias Fünke do?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went viral recently for hitting the gym in the furthest thing from a sweat-wicking material: denim. In a video intended to encourage Americans to "get active," the Secretary of Health and Human Services is seen doing pushups and riding a stationary bike while wearing a pair of jeans — drawing obvious comparisons to the eccentric *Arrested Development* character.

Tobias Fünke, played by David Cross, famously went through a "never-nude" phase during which he wore jean shorts at all times, even in the shower. Similarly for RFK Jr., he didn't ditch the denim for his post-gym cold plunge.

The RFK Jr.-Tobias memes made their way to Cross, who didn't find the viral moment as amusing as those on social media.

David Cross as 'never-nude' Tobias and Michael Cera on 'Arrested Development'.

"I mean, it's no crazier than any of the other s--- he's done," the comedian told *Variety* in a joint interview with Bob Odenkirk. "And I'm not the first person to make this observation, but when you go to the gym and there's a guy working out in jeans, to me, that's weird *immediately*. That's a weird thing! He seems like that kind of guy. He seems disturbed on some level."

Cross previously spoke about the RFK Jr.-Tobias comparisons to *The Daily Beast's Obsessed* podcast, aside from both dealing with "never-nude" syndrome, which is actually based on a real psychological fear of nudity called gymnophobia.

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“The thing you have to remember is, Tobias Fünke is deeply disturbed and deluded, and not especially bright," Cross said. "So in that way, sure, it's relatable."

In the *Variety* interview, Odenkirk admitted he was not familiar with "never-nude" RFK Jr., but had a similar sentiment as Cross, his longtime friend and *Mr. Show* costar.

David Cross in May 2026.

Derek White/Getty

"I have not seen that image yet, but I'm happy for everyone that we get to suffer the rantings and ravings of a f---ing nutcase and that he's been given such power," Odenkirk remarked sarcastically. "It's just the best. What else have we got to do with our lives besides deal with his kooky inspirations?"

Kennedy's "never-nude" gym session with Kid Rock was not the first time he's worked out in dungarees.

In August 2025, the former environmental lawyer pledged to "make America healthy again" by introducing the "Pete and Bobby Challenge" with Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary. RFK Jr. demonstrated "100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in 10 minutes" while dressed in blue jeans.

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The 72-year-old defended his athleisure wear to Fox News at the time.

"Well, I just started doing that a long time ago because I would go hiking in the morning and then I'd go straight to the gym," he explained. "And I found it was convenient, and now I'm used to it, so I just do it."

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