Olivia Nuzzi, the Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, has been placed on leave pending a “third-party review” after disclosing a personal relationship with former U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The relationship, which Nuzzi admitted began while she was reporting on the 2024 campaign, has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Relationship disclosure and editorial response
In a statement released by New York Magazine on Thursday, the publication revealed that Nuzzi had informed her editors of the relationship with a former subject relevant to her reporting on the 2024 presidential campaign.
The magazine noted that Nuzzi, who is known for her in-depth political reporting, violated its standards concerning the disclosure of conflicts of interest. Despite this, the publication emphasized that after a review of Nuzzi’s work, no inaccuracies or evidence of bias were found.
However, the magazine has initiated a more extensive third-party investigation and confirmed that Nuzzi is currently on leave.
David Haskell, the editor of New York Magazine, addressed staff in a memo, explaining that Nuzzi disclosed the relationship a few days earlier. According to Haskell, the relationship with Kennedy began in December 2023 and ended in August 2024.
Nuzzi’s statement
In a separate statement to The New York Times, Nuzzi acknowledged her failure to disclose the relationship, stating that “some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal.” She emphasized that while the relationship was not physical, she regretted not disclosing it sooner. “The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict,” Nuzzi said. “I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”
Who is Olivia Nuzzi?
Born on January 6, 1993, in New York City, Olivia Nuzzi grew up in Middletown Township, New Jersey. After graduating from Middletown High School South, Nuzzi attended Fordham University but left to accept a full-time offer from The Daily Beast in 2014.
Nuzzi’s career in political journalism began at the age of 20 when she interned for Anthony Weiner’s 2013 New York City mayoral campaign. During that time, she also wrote for NSFWcorp, where she documented her experiences in a blog post.
Nuzzi rose to prominence during her time at The Daily Beast, covering the presidential campaigns of Chris Christie, Rand Paul, and Donald Trump.
Her work earned her recognition from Politico, which named her one of the “16 Breakout Media Stars” in 2016, and Forbes, which included her in its “30 Under 30” list in 2018.
In February 2017, Nuzzi joined New York Magazine as its Washington correspondent, where she has written extensively on U.S. politics. Notably, she penned a profile of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in November 2023, which coincided with the start of her personal relationship with the former candidate.
Impact on Politico and Ryan Lizza’s Response
The fallout from Nuzzi’s disclosure has extended beyond New York Magazine. Ryan Lizza, Politico’s chief Washington correspondent and Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé, issued a note to readers following the revelations.
“Because of my connection to this story through my ex-fiancée, my editors and I have agreed that I won’t be involved in any coverage of Kennedy in Playbook or elsewhere at POLITICO,” Lizza said.
As the third-party review continues, Nuzzi’s leave from New York Magazine raises important questions about journalistic ethics and the need for transparency in the reporting process. While no bias has been found in her previous work, the investigation underscores the publication’s commitment to maintaining trust with its readership.