New York magazine star reporter Olivia Nuzzi is leaving the publication just weeks after it was revealed she had a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom she introduced to the magazine.
Nuzzi’s departure comes as law firm Davis Wright Tremaine’s third-party review of her work found “no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias,” the magazine announced on Thursday. Two come in a note to readers. “However, the magazine and Nuzzi have agreed that the best path forward is to part ways,” it said. “Nuzzi is a uniquely talented writer and we have proudly published her work during her nearly eight years as our Washington Correspondent. We wish her the best.”
Separately, in a memo to staff, New York editor-in-chief David Haskell wrote that he was “pleased that the recently completed external review agreed with our initial conclusion that her report was sound and did not require correction.” However, Haskell reiterated that “Nuzzi’s actions created at least the appearance of a conflict and violated the policies we have in place to protect reader trust and our culture of honesty and respect in our newsroom.”
In a statement to Vanity Fair, Ari WilkenfeldNuzzi’s attorney said her client was “pleased but not surprised that two different investigations determined that her reporting on the 2024 campaign was correct and that she did nothing wrong.”
“For nearly eight years, she has consistently produced critically acclaimed and hugely popular journalism as New York Magazine’s Washington Correspondent,” Wilkenfeld continued. “She is grateful to the editors, fact-checkers and artists she has worked with as well as the readers who have supported her with their time, subscriptions and engagement. She looks forward to the next chapter in her career.”
The Nuzzi-Kennedy scandal exploded New York and overwhelmed the media and political world. On September 19, Oliver DarcyNuzzi’s Status newsletter revealed that Nuzzi was fired from the magazine after they learned about her relationship with the former presidential hopeful.
EQUAL Vanity fair previously reportedHaskell confronted Nuzzi on September 13 at the magazine’s offices, telling her that he had heard about the relationship with Kennedy. Nuzzi initially denied the relationship before admitting it.
Pursuing a romantic relationship with a source or subject is considered a cardinal sin in journalism. But some observers believe the situation has at least some nuance. According to all parties, the relationship was never physical and was conducted over the phone. It took place largely after Nuzzi’s profile ran. There is also the matter of Kennedy, who was a long history pursued extramarital affairs and was accused of sexual assault.
To some, Nuzzi’s biggest mistake was evading Haskell when he first confronted her about the allegations, only revealing her relationship with Kennedy when pressed further.
Although the split should quell speculation about Nuzzi’s future with New York, the scandal is still playing out in court. Nuzzi filed for a protective order with her ex-fiancé, a Politico reporter Ryan Lizzain Washington, DC Superior Court. She accused that Lizza tried to blackmail her about the affair when he first discovered it. Lizza has denied those claims.
Lizza’s profile made public this week re-ignited tabloid interest in the story by claiming that Nuzzi told him how Kennedy wanted to “own”, “control” and “impregnate” her.
