Olivia Nuzzi , a star political journalist and Washington correspondent for New York magazine , has recently come under scrutiny following reports of an alleged personal relationship with former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including claims of sexting. Nuzzi acknowledged that her communications with Kennedy, who was married to actress Cheryl Hines, had turned personal while she was reporting on his 2024 independent campaign. This revelation has raised concerns about journalistic ethics and conflicts of interest.
Nuzzi, who built her career with a bold and unfiltered approach to political reporting, admitted in a statement that "the nature of some communications between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal." She insisted that the relationship was not physical, but the allegations of personal involvement with a subject she was covering have caused a stir in media circles. New York magazine placed her on leave and released a formal statement addressing the situation:
"Recently, our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi acknowledged to the magazine’s editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures. Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. An internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias. She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust."
The controversy has brought attention to Nuzzi’s fast-rising career, which began while she was still in college. Born in 1993 in Red Bank, New Jersey, she made her way into political journalism with The Daily Beast and Politico, covering the chaotic 2016 presidential campaign. Known for her hard-hitting reporting on the Trump administration, Nuzzi quickly became one of the most notable voices in Washington political journalism.
In 2018, she joined New York magazine as their Washington correspondent, where her sharp, in-depth profiles of political figures like Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump became widely read. Nuzzi’s coverage of Trump’s inner circle during his presidency, including the Ukraine scandal that led to his first impeachment, further cemented her reputation as a standout journalist in the national political landscape.
The alleged personal relationship with RFK Jr. reportedly developed after Nuzzi wrote a November 2023 profile of Kennedy, during which she visited his Brentwood, California, home and went hiking with him in the Santa Monica Mountains. Sources claim that their communication became personal after that encounter, though Kennedy’s representatives deny any continued relationship beyond that interview.
In addition to the professional fallout, Nuzzi’s personal life has also been affected. She was engaged to fellow journalist Ryan Lizza, a Politico reporter, but they called off their engagement shortly before the RFK Jr. allegations surfaced. This development added another layer of intrigue to the unfolding situation, as both Nuzzi and Lizza are well-known figures in Washington's media circles.
Nuzzi’s work has always been characterized by its mix of humor, incisiveness, and candid analysis. She has written extensively about the Trump administration, the 2020 election, and the rise of populist movements. Her profile pieces, particularly those that dive deeply into the personalities and strategies of political figures, are widely regarded as some of the most insightful in political journalism.
Her recent personal controversy has cast a shadow over her professional achievements, but an internal review of her work has found no evidence of bias or inaccuracies. Nonetheless, the magazine is conducting a third-party review to further examine any potential conflicts of interest stemming from her relationship with Kennedy.
Despite the scandal, Nuzzi’s career remains marked by her ability to capture the pulse of U.S. politics. The lingering question is whether this personal controversy will permanently mar her otherwise remarkable trajectory in political journalism or simply become a passing chapter in an already distinguished career.
Nuzzi, who built her career with a bold and unfiltered approach to political reporting, admitted in a statement that "the nature of some communications between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal." She insisted that the relationship was not physical, but the allegations of personal involvement with a subject she was covering have caused a stir in media circles. New York magazine placed her on leave and released a formal statement addressing the situation:
"Recently, our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi acknowledged to the magazine’s editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures. Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. An internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias. She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust."
The controversy has brought attention to Nuzzi’s fast-rising career, which began while she was still in college. Born in 1993 in Red Bank, New Jersey, she made her way into political journalism with The Daily Beast and Politico, covering the chaotic 2016 presidential campaign. Known for her hard-hitting reporting on the Trump administration, Nuzzi quickly became one of the most notable voices in Washington political journalism.
In 2018, she joined New York magazine as their Washington correspondent, where her sharp, in-depth profiles of political figures like Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump became widely read. Nuzzi’s coverage of Trump’s inner circle during his presidency, including the Ukraine scandal that led to his first impeachment, further cemented her reputation as a standout journalist in the national political landscape.
The alleged personal relationship with RFK Jr. reportedly developed after Nuzzi wrote a November 2023 profile of Kennedy, during which she visited his Brentwood, California, home and went hiking with him in the Santa Monica Mountains. Sources claim that their communication became personal after that encounter, though Kennedy’s representatives deny any continued relationship beyond that interview.
In addition to the professional fallout, Nuzzi’s personal life has also been affected. She was engaged to fellow journalist Ryan Lizza, a Politico reporter, but they called off their engagement shortly before the RFK Jr. allegations surfaced. This development added another layer of intrigue to the unfolding situation, as both Nuzzi and Lizza are well-known figures in Washington's media circles.
Nuzzi’s work has always been characterized by its mix of humor, incisiveness, and candid analysis. She has written extensively about the Trump administration, the 2020 election, and the rise of populist movements. Her profile pieces, particularly those that dive deeply into the personalities and strategies of political figures, are widely regarded as some of the most insightful in political journalism.
Her recent personal controversy has cast a shadow over her professional achievements, but an internal review of her work has found no evidence of bias or inaccuracies. Nonetheless, the magazine is conducting a third-party review to further examine any potential conflicts of interest stemming from her relationship with Kennedy.
Despite the scandal, Nuzzi’s career remains marked by her ability to capture the pulse of U.S. politics. The lingering question is whether this personal controversy will permanently mar her otherwise remarkable trajectory in political journalism or simply become a passing chapter in an already distinguished career.
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