New York magazine and its star political reporter, Olivia Nuzzi, have agreed to “part ways” following revelations of a personal digital relationship she maintained with a source while covering the 2024 campaign.
The magazine announced on Monday that an internal review and an external investigation by a law firm confirmed there were no issues with Nuzzi’s accuracy or bias in her reporting. Despite this, the decision to separate was mutually agreed upon. The magazine expressed its appreciation for Nuzzi’s contributions over her nearly eight-year tenure as their Washington correspondent, acknowledging her unique talent and wishing her the best in future endeavors.
The newsletter Status and The New York Times, both citing unnamed sources, identified Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the individual involved with Nuzzi, although she has not confirmed his involvement. Kennedy, for his part, stated that he had only met Nuzzi once.
David Haskell, New York magazine’s editor in chief, informed staff members that Nuzzi disclosed the relationship had begun in December, “after we had published her November profile.” Nuzzi’s only published profile that month was of Kennedy. The relationship reportedly ended in August, according to Haskell.
The magazine stated that had they been aware of the relationship, Nuzzi would not have been allowed to cover the presidential campaign.
Nuzzi issued a statement to Status last month affirming that the nature of some communications between her and a former reporting subject turned personal early in the year. She clarified that during this period, she did not report on the individual nor used them as a source. Nuzzi remarked that the relationship was never physical but acknowledged that it should have been disclosed to avoid any appearance of a conflict. She expressed deep regret for not doing so immediately and apologized to her colleagues and those she disappointed at New York.