Olivia Nuzzi, a prominent Washington correspondent for New York magazine, recently found herself at the center of a scandal involving US Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. While covering the 2024 campaign, Nuzzi admitted to engaging in “sexting” with Kennedy, revealing that their relationship had taken a personal turn. Despite the nature of their communications, Nuzzi clarified that the relationship was not physical. This revelation sparked a wave of controversy and led to Nuzzi being placed on leave by New York magazine, pending a third-party review of her work.
RFK Jr.’s ill-fated 2024 presidential campaign further added to the drama surrounding the scandal. The son of the late Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Kennedy’s campaign failed to gain significant traction due to his controversial positions on issues such as vaccinations. Last month, Kennedy unofficially dropped out of the race, throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump and urging his followers to do the same in the upcoming election.
Nuzzi’s rise to prominence as a journalist and TV pundit has been marked by her sharp political analysis and high-profile interviews. One such interview with Trump saw the former president inviting Nuzzi to inspect his ear, which he claimed had been injured in an assassination attempt. Nuzzi described the surreal moment in her article, highlighting the bizarre nature of the encounter. Her work with Kennedy, on the other hand, involved a detailed profile that delved into his personal life, political beliefs, and mannerisms. Nuzzi’s visit to Kennedy’s Brentwood mansion and their hike in the Santa Monica mountains painted a vivid picture of the man behind the public persona.
The fallout from Nuzzi’s admission of a personal relationship with Kennedy also affected her engagement to Ryan Lizza, a political journalist and co-author at Politico. The couple, who had been engaged since 2022, reportedly called off their marriage just weeks before news of Nuzzi’s inappropriate messages with Kennedy surfaced. This turn of events added another layer of complexity to an already tumultuous situation, further complicating Nuzzi’s professional and personal life.
While much of the focus has been on Nuzzi, Kennedy himself has not escaped scrutiny. Married to actress Cheryl Hines since 2014, Kennedy has a history of infidelity, including during his second marriage to Mary Richardson, which ended in 2010. Kennedy has openly acknowledged his past indiscretions, referring to his “lust demons” as his “greatest defect” and attributing them to the breakdown of his marriage. The scandal involving Nuzzi has reignited discussions about Kennedy’s marital history and personal conduct, casting a shadow over his political ambitions.
In response to the scandal, New York magazine issued a statement explaining that Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy violated their conflict-of-interest policies. The magazine expressed regret for the breach of trust and emphasized their commitment to upholding journalistic standards. Despite placing Nuzzi on leave and launching a review of her work, the publication found no inaccuracies or evidence of bias in her published articles, highlighting the complexity of navigating personal relationships in the world of journalism.
As the dust settles on the scandal surrounding Olivia Nuzzi and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., questions remain about the intersection of personal relationships and professional responsibilities in the field of journalism. The fallout from their alleged “sexting” scandal has not only impacted their own lives but also raised broader concerns about ethics, integrity, and accountability in the media industry. Only time will tell how this controversy will shape the careers and reputations of those involved, leaving a lasting impact on both the individuals and the institutions they represent.