New York Magazine Reporter Placed on Leave Over Undisclosed Relationship with RFK Jr.

In a surprising turn of events, New York Magazine has placed Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi on leave following her admission of a personal relationship with a former reporting subject during her coverage of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. The magazine disclosed that Nuzzi failed to reveal this relationship, which is against their ethical guidelines for journalists.

In a statement, New York Magazine emphasized that had they known about the relationship, Nuzzi would not have continued covering the campaign. Although an internal review of her work found no inaccuracies or bias, the magazine expressed regret over this breach of trust with their audience.

Nuzzi, in her own statement to The New York Times, clarified that “some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal” earlier this year. While she did not report directly on the subject during this time, she acknowledged that the relationship though never physical should have been disclosed to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

While neither Nuzzi nor New York Magazine has explicitly named the reporting subject, sources including CNN and The New York Times have identified him as RFK Jr. A spokesperson for Kennedy stated that he met Nuzzi only once for an interview that he described as a “hit piece.”

Nuzzi previously authored a detailed piece on Kennedy in November 2023, titled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Campaign.” In recent weeks, she also conducted an interview with Donald Trump, published on September 9. The online version of this article has since been updated with a note regarding the ongoing situation.

RFK Jr., known for his environmental advocacy and anti-vaccine stance, recently exited the presidential race, announcing his support for Donald Trump. As New York Magazine conducts a thorough third-party review of the matter, Nuzzi has expressed regret for her oversight and apologized to her colleagues and readers for any disappointment caused.

This incident highlights the critical importance of transparency in journalism, particularly when personal relationships intersect with professional reporting.