Olivia Nuzzi Departs New York Magazine Amid Controversy
The prominent political journalist Olivia Nuzzi, known for her incisive reporting at New York Magazine, has officially parted ways with the publication following the revelation of her personal relationship with former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. This development has stirred significant discussion within journalistic circles.
In a statement issued to readers on Monday, New York Magazine announced that an independent investigation conducted by the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine had concluded that there were “no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias” in Nuzzi’s reporting on the 2024 presidential campaign. Despite these findings, the magazine and Nuzzi mutually agreed that it was in their best interests to end their professional relationship.
The statement emphasized, “Nuzzi is a uniquely talented writer, and we have been proud to publish her work throughout her nearly eight years as our Washington correspondent. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
In response to the situation, Nuzzi’s attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, expressed that she was “gratified though not surprised” by the investigation’s findings, which affirmed the integrity of her journalism. He added, “She looks forward to embarking on the next chapter of her career.”
The controversy began in September when media outlet Status reported on Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy. Following this disclosure, New York Magazine placed her on leave, citing the personal relationship as a violation of the magazine’s standards regarding conflicts of interest and necessary disclosures. The magazine’s editor later reiterated that the situation had at least created the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Nuzzi has publicly stated that her relationship with Kennedy was never physical. A representative for Kennedy remarked that he had only met Nuzzi “once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.”
The fallout from this controversy also impacted Nuzzi’s former fiancé, Ryan Lizza, who serves as Politico’s chief Washington correspondent. Nuzzi has since filed a temporary protective order against Lizza, accusing him of various offenses, including threats of violence, hacking into her devices, leaking “damaging information” to her employer, and attempting to blackmail her in an effort to rekindle their relationship.
In a recent court filing, Lizza denied all allegations made by Nuzzi, claiming that she was “abusing the protections meant for survivors of domestic violence to ruin my reputation in a last-ditch effort to salvage her own.” Earlier this month, Politico announced that Lizza and the publication had “mutually agreed” for him to take a leave of absence while an internal investigation is underway.
