New York magazine has placed its esteemed Washington reporter, Olivia Nuzzi, on leave for breaching the publication’s standards by engaging in a personal relationship with a former subject she covered. Allegations from the newsletter Status and The New York Times suggest that the individual involved with Nuzzi was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., although Kennedy has stated that he only met her once and the direct involvement has not been confirmed by New York or Nuzzi. The situation is particularly significant given Nuzzi’s recent cover story for New York magazine featuring an interview with Donald Trump titled “Peering into Donald Trump’s Ear, and Soul.”
In response to the revelation, New York magazine has issued a note informing readers that had they known about the relationship, Nuzzi would not have been allowed to cover the presidential campaign. An internal review conducted by the magazine has not uncovered any inaccuracies or bias in Nuzzi’s work, but she remains on leave while a more comprehensive third-party investigation is carried out. The magazine expressed regret over the breach of trust with readers and declined to provide further comments on the matter.
Nuzzi, in a statement to Status, admitted that what began as professional communication with a former subject had evolved into a personal connection in early 2024. She clarified that there was no physical aspect to the relationship but acknowledged the need to disclose it to prevent any perception of conflict. Nuzzi expressed deep regret for not disclosing the relationship sooner and apologized to those she may have disappointed, particularly her colleagues at New York magazine.
The timeline of when Nuzzi’s supervisors at the magazine became aware of the relationship remains unclear. In one of her previous works, Nuzzi wrote about Kennedy’s campaign in an article titled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Campaign,” recounting a tense car ride and brief hike with Kennedy and his dogs during an interview. Nuzzi also referenced Kennedy in a March 2024 piece in The New York Times alongside Frank Bruni and Joe Klein, highlighting Kennedy’s competitive polling at the time.
A representative for Kennedy, who is married to actress Cheryl Hines, was quoted by Status as stating that Kennedy had only met Nuzzi once for an interview she had requested, which resulted in a critical article. The circumstances surrounding the relationship between Nuzzi and Kennedy have stirred controversy, leading to Nuzzi’s current leave from New York magazine.
