Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has come forward to refute rumors regarding a romantic involvement with New York Magazine‘s Washington correspondent, Olivia Nuzzi.
A spokesperson for Kennedy stated, “Mr. Kennedy met Olivia Nuzzi only once for an interview she initiated, which resulted in a critical article.” This comment was made to media outlet Status, which was the first to report on the alleged relationship.
At 70 years old, Kennedy has halted his independent presidential campaign as of August and now supports Donald Trump, who has since included him on his transition team. Kennedy has been married to actress Cheryl Hines since 2014.
Nuzzi, 31, admitted in a The New York Times statement that “communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal” earlier this year.
She clarified, “During that time, I did not report on the subject nor cite them as a source. The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to avoid potential conflicts. I sincerely regret not addressing this sooner and apologize to my colleagues at New York.
While Nuzzi did not specify Kennedy in her statement, journalist Oliver Darcy later identified him as the individual involved, based on information from a source close to her. Reports suggest their relationship began after her profile on Kennedy was published last November.
New York Magazine announced that Nuzzi, who has been with them since 2017, is currently on leave. They reported that she admitted to engaging in a personal relationship with a former subject while covering the 2024 campaign, which violated the magazine’s conflict of interest policies.
The magazine conducted an internal review of Nuzzi’s reporting and found “no inaccuracies or bias,” but has initiated a more extensive third-party evaluation.
Since November, Nuzzi, known for her in-depth political articles, has not published work focused on Kennedy. Her latest article includes an interview with Trump released in September, alongside a July feature on President Biden, both updated with a note regarding her situation.
Nuzzi previously referred to the upcoming election as a “three-man race” and mentioned that voters are fortunate to have various third-party options, including Kennedy. She pointed out that mainstream media often hesitates to treat Kennedy as a legitimate contender, fearing backlash for endorsing someone labeled as an “anti-vaxxer.”