New York Magazine political reporter Olivia Nuzzi, is on leave over an alleged relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Olivia Nuzzi, a renowned political reporter for New York Magazine, has been placed on leave after admitting to a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former U.S. presidential candidate.
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| Olivia Nuzzi at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, in Washington, on April 29. Jose Luis Magana/The Associated Press |
The relationship, which she disclosed to her editors, violated the magazine's standards regarding conflicts of interest and transparency, especially as she had covered the 2024 election campaign, including Kennedy's profile.
Who is Olivia Nuzzi?
Born in New York City on January 6, 1993, Nuzzi grew up in Middletown Township, New Jersey. After graduating from Middletown High School South, she attended Fordham University but left after being offered a full-time position with The Daily Beast in 2014.
Nuzzi’s early career saw her interning for Anthony Weiner’s mayoral campaign in New York City, while she also wrote for NSFWcorp. Her work at The Daily Beast included covering the presidential campaigns of Chris Christie, Rand Paul, and Donald Trump. In 2017, she joined New York Magazine as its Washington correspondent, gaining recognition for her well-researched features and coverage of political campaigns.
Notably, Nuzzi has profiled high-profile figures and earned spots on lists such as Politico’s "16 Breakout Media Stars" and Forbes’ "30 Under 30" in 2018.
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| Getty Images |
In November 2023, Nuzzi published a profile of Kennedy while he was running as an Independent candidate for president. However, Nuzzi claims her personal relationship with Kennedy began in December 2023, a month after the profile was published. She clarified that the relationship was never physical but acknowledged that it became personal, admitting that she should have disclosed it to her editors to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. The relationship ended in late August 2024.
Following the revelation, New York Magazine conducted an internal review of Nuzzi’s work, confirming that no bias or inaccuracies were found in her reporting since December.
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However, the magazine has engaged a third party to further investigate her 2024 stories, and their findings will influence the final disciplinary decision. David Haskell, the editor-in-chief, said that by failing to disclose her relationship with Kennedy, Nuzzi had potentially damaged the magazine’s trust with its readers, even though her coverage remained factually accurate.
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| Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines - Barry King/Getty Images |
Nuzzi expressed regret over the situation and issued a public apology, especially to her colleagues at New York Magazine, admitting her error in judgment. In a statement to several media outlets, she reiterated that while the relationship was personal, she had not reported on or used Kennedy as a source during that time. Despite these clarifications, her leave from the magazine continues as the investigation proceeds.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 70, has not commented on the relationship allegations, but a spokesperson stated that Kennedy had only met Nuzzi once for an interview. Kennedy, who is married to actress Cheryl Hines, became a controversial figure due to his activism and political stances, including his anti-vaccine views.
His 2024 presidential campaign featured a series of bizarre revelations, including a claim that part of his brain was eaten by a worm and rumors that he had dumped a dead bear in Central Park. Despite dropping out of the race, Kennedy endorsed Donald Trump and was later named to Trump’s presidential transition team.