New York Magazine Writer Olivia Nuzzi Takes Leave After Relationship with RFK Jr. Revealed

 

Olivia Nuzzi, a prominent political journalist for New York magazine, is on leave after it was revealed that she had a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while covering his independent campaign for the presidency. Nuzzi’s connection with Kennedy, a member of the well-known Kennedy family, was found to have breached the magazine’s rules regarding conflicts of interest.

In a statement, New York magazine explained, "Our Washington Correspondent, Olivia Nuzzi, admitted to the editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while reporting on the race. This is a violation of our standards regarding conflicts of interest and disclosure." The magazine further noted that if they had known about the relationship earlier, Nuzzi would not have been assigned to cover Kennedy's presidential bid. An internal review of her work found no signs of bias or inaccuracies, but a third-party investigation is ongoing.

Nuzzi acknowledged the relationship but clarified that it had not been physical and began after her reporting on Kennedy. She expressed regret for not disclosing the connection earlier, stating, “The nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal. During that time, I did not report on him or use him as a source. I apologize to my colleagues and readers for not addressing this sooner.”

A spokesperson for RFK Jr. denied any close association, telling CNN that Kennedy had only met Nuzzi once for an interview, which he described as resulting in a negative article about him.

Kennedy’s 2024 campaign, which aimed to challenge both major parties, struggled to gain traction and was overshadowed by his controversial views, particularly on vaccines. Meanwhile, Nuzzi has built a significant reputation in American journalism, with notable interviews, including a recent one with Donald Trump, where she humorously recounted his insistence that she examine his ear following an alleged assassination attempt.