One of America’s most acclaimed magazine writers, Olivia Nuzzi of New York magazine, has been placed on leave while a “third-party review” is conducted after the publication said Nuzzi disclosed that she “had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign.”
While the magazine did not identify the subject, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told CNN that the relationship was with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who ran for president as an independent candidate and recently endorsed Donald Trump. The person said the relationship was emotional and digital in nature, not physical.
A Kennedy spokesperson told CNN, “Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.”
The alleged relationship was first reported on Thursday night by Oliver Darcy in Status.
In a statement to CNN, Nuzzi said her relationship with a reporting subject had “turned personal” and that she regretted not disclosing it to the publication.
“Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal. During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source,” she said. “The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologise to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”
Olivia Nuzzi has always been a compromised, racist journalist and her having an affair with RFK Jr. just confirms how twisted she is. pic.twitter.com/1cBoT8GPBe
— Democrats Deliver (@truthjusticehph) September 20, 2024
In a note to readers, New York magazine said Nuzzi is “currently on leave,” and the publication is “conducting a more thorough third-party review.”
Nuzzi penned a profile of Kennedy last November and has written numerous other features about Trump and the 2024 campaign since then.
According to the magazine, Nuzzi “recently” acknowledged a relationship with a reporting subject, which was a “violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures.”
Here’s Olivia Nuzzi puffing up RFK Jr. in the New York Times in March. It has now been revealed that Nuzzi had a romantic relationship with RFK Jr. and New York magazine put her on leave after finding out. pic.twitter.com/kNgutVhuYl
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 20, 2024
“Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign,” the New York magazine statement added.
The magazine also said that “an internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias.” Still, the magazine said, “we regret this violation of our readers’ trust.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- Hindustan Times reported Olivia Nuzzi’s leave from New York Magazine after disclosing her relationship with RFK Jr. raises ethical questions about journalist integrity. (Read more)
- The Daily Beast reports that Nuzzi’s admission of a personal relationship with RFK Jr. reflects a significant breach of journalistic ethics, potentially reshape perceptions of her credibility. (Read more)
- Independent reported that Nuzzi’s suspension from New York Magazine over her undisclosed relationship with RFK Jr. reflects broader issues of accountability in journalism, emphasising the need for clear ethical guidelines in political reporting. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why was Olivia Nuzzi placed on leave from New York magazine?
Olivia Nuzzi was placed on leave due to a “third-party review” after disclosing a personal relationship with a subject relevant to the 2024 campaign.
Who was the subject of Olivia Nuzzi’s alleged personal relationship?
A source told CNN the subject was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., though the magazine did not officially identify him.
Was the relationship between Nuzzi and Kennedy physical?
No, Nuzzi stated the relationship was emotional and digital in nature, not physical.
How has New York magazine responded to the situation?
The magazine acknowledged Nuzzi’s violation of conflict of interest standards and is conducting a third-party review while confirming no inaccuracies were found in her published work.
What did Olivia Nuzzi say about the relationship?
Nuzzi expressed regret for not disclosing the relationship earlier, admitting that it had turned personal and violated the magazine’s conflict of interest policy.
