Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election, has found himself embroiled in controversy with notable political journalist Olivia Nuzzi. The controversy centers around allegations that the two shared private messages while Nuzzi was engaged to someone else.
Nuzzi, after being placed on leave by New York magazine last Thursday, acknowledged in a statement that her communications with Kennedy, whom she had previously reported on, had become personal. She clarified that their interaction was strictly non-physical and apologized for her failure to inform her editors about the nature of their relationship sooner.
Reports by The New York Post, citing anonymous sources, claim that Nuzzi and the married Kennedy exchanged intimate texts even as she was engaged. This controversy came to light following a November 2023 article Nuzzi wrote about Kennedy, during which period the alleged intimate messaging took place.
It is reported that Nuzzi traveled to California to conduct an interview with Kennedy at his residence in Brentwood, which included a hike together in the Santa Monica Mountains. According to a representative for Kennedy, the encounter was solely for a requested interview, which Kennedy felt was unfairly critical.
A spokesperson for New York magazine confirmed Nuzzi’s suspension, stating it was due to her engaging in a personal relationship with a former subject who was directly involved in the 2024 campaign while she was actively covering it. This episode has ignited a firestorm of debate over journalistic integrity and personal ethics.
