In a stunning twist in the world of political reporting, New York Magazine’s Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi has been suspended following revelations of a personal relationship with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Nuzzi, 31, reportedly sent nude photos to the 70-year-old Kennedy, who is married to actress Cheryl Hines, prompting a scandal that has left both her professional and personal life in turmoil.
On Thursday, New York Magazine announced Nuzzi’s leave amid the fallout from a story first reported by Puck News and later confirmed by The Daily Beast. According to these reports, Kennedy boasted to friends about receiving intimate photos from Nuzzi, which eventually reached the ears of her editor, David Haskell.
Haskell confronted Nuzzi about the situation on September 13, leading to her initial denials followed by a confession. Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy reportedly spanned from December 2023 to August 2024, a timeframe that raised significant ethical questions given her role as a journalist covering political subjects.
The scandal took a personal turn when Nuzzi’s partner, Ryan Lizza, a reporter at Politico, issued a statement declaring her his “ex-fiancée,” indicating the pair have broken up. Lizza said he would recuse himself from covering Kennedy due to his connection to Nuzzi, reflecting the far-reaching implications of the affair.
Nuzzi later issued a statement clarifying that the relationship was never physical but acknowledged that she should have disclosed her communications with Kennedy to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
“I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed,” she stated.
In response, a Kennedy spokesperson downplayed the relationship, claiming the two had met only once for an interview that resulted in a “hit piece” published by Nuzzi in November 2023. This profile featured a personal look at Kennedy, which included details about his lifestyle and interactions.
This is not the first time Nuzzi has found herself at the center of controversy. In 2018, she faced accusations from former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski regarding her attempts to interview him, which he claimed involved an unauthorized entry into his home office. Additionally, her text exchanges with former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani gained significant media attention.
As the scandal unfolds, New York Magazine has placed Nuzzi’s past reporting under review, with Haskell announcing plans to bring in an independent third party to assess her work. Notably, Nuzzi has garnered a reputation as one of the publication’s star reporters, having made Forbes’s “30 Under 30 – Media” list in 2018 and being known for her incisive profiles of political figures.
