Writer Olivia Nuzzi and magazine “part ways” after RFK Jr. claims

Olivia Nuzzi, a political correspondent for New York Magazine, has now parted ways with the publication after claims surfaced that she had a personal digital relationship with RFK, Jr. while covering the 2024 presidential campaign.

Despite an internal review and a law firm investigation clearing Nuzzi of any bias or inaccuracies in her reporting, the magazine announced Monday that it was in the best interest of both parties to move on.

“Nevertheless, the magazine and Nuzzi agreed that the best course forward is to part ways,” the publication said in a post on its website, which it framed as an update to readers. “Nuzzi is a uniquely talented writer and we have been proud to publish her work over her nearly eight years as our Washington correspondent. We wish her the best.”

The controversy erupted last month when reports from The New York Times and media newsletter Status named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the individual involved with Nuzzi. While she has yet to confirm Kennedy’s involvement, he has publicly stated that he met her only once.

A spokesperson for Kennedy, who is married, told the Times that he “only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.”

Kennedy, 70, ended his independent run for president in August. He has endorsed former president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and has been appointed to Trump’s transition team should he win November’s election.

Newsweek has reached out to New York magazine via email for comment.

Nuzzi’s relationship with the source reportedly began in December 2023, shortly after the publication of her November profile on Kennedy in which she said his campaign had the potential to turn “the presidential race upside down,” and ended in August 2024.

David Haskell, the editor-in-chief of New York magazine, revealed in a staff memo that the relationship had started after Nuzzi’s profile was published. According to Haskell, had the publication known of the relationship earlier, Nuzzi would have been prohibited from covering the campaign.

In a statement to Status, Nuzzi expressed regret for not disclosing the relationship sooner, stating,

“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 apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”

The split comes after the publication previously placed Nuzzi on leave last month and said the relationship was “a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures.”

“She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review,” the magazine said last month.

Since then, the investigation concluded that Nuzzi’s work remained accurate and impartial.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.