Column: The Importance of Concern Over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Controversial Relationship with a Journalist

There are numerous cringeworthy aspects to the inappropriate relationship between New York magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

First and foremost, Kennedy is married to actor Cheryl Hines. Second, there is a significant age gap between Nuzzi, 31, and Kennedy, 70. Additionally, Nuzzi was previously engaged to political journalist Ryan Lizza, who faced allegations of improper sexual conduct in 2017.

Aside from the scandalous nature of the affair, why should any of us care?

It reflects poorly on Nuzzi’s journalistic credibility as the magazine’s Washington correspondent and casts a shadow over New York magazine, whose editors were taken by surprise upon learning of the relationship.

New York magazine suspended Nuzzi for breaching its standards on conflicts of interest and disclosures. An unsigned note to readers on the magazine’s website stated, “Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust.”

While involved with Kennedy, which reportedly began after Nuzzi wrote a profile of him and ended in August, she continued to offer insights on the presidential race. In a discussion with journalists Frank Bruni and Joe Klein published by the New York Times in March, she criticized the “establishment press” for not taking Kennedy seriously as a candidate in what she called a “three-man race.” She also penned a critical article in July about a supposed “conspiracy of silence” to protect then-candidate Joe Biden.

Nuzzi’s actions did not just cross ethical boundaries; they recklessly ignored red flags and warning signs. This behavior is a disaster waiting to happen, with someone inevitably falling victim, and it won’t be Kennedy.

Surprisingly, many journalists rushed to defend Nuzzi’s actions.

“If we were all judged based on our worst moments or biggest mistakes, how many of us would come across as anything other than awful?” wrote journalist Chris Cilizza.

The Atlantic’s Caitlin Flanagan compared the outrage over Nuzzi to the backlash Taylor Swift faced after endorsing Kamala Harris, stating, “Beautiful women unsettle and disrupt. This isn’t yellow cake uranium.”

Ben Smith argued in Semafor that compromising relationships with sources are common among reporters, with loyalty to a source being the primary currency. He downplayed the significance of sexual interactions.

The string of #MeToo scandals in journalism primarily involved male bosses harassing female subordinates. While women are less likely to exhibit predatory behavior, they have been known to engage in inappropriate conduct, typically consensually.

It remains unclear whether Nuzzi’s career will be irreparably damaged by this scandal. She claimed the relationship was not physical but acknowledged the need for disclosure to avoid conflicts of interest.

The relationship between Nuzzi and Kennedy became an open secret in certain media circles. Kennedy allegedly shared intimate photos Nuzzi sent him, leading to the situation becoming known to New York’s editor in chief, David Haskell.

Nuzzi’s poor judgment in this matter is regrettable. She is known for her engaging writing style and entertaining content, but her actions have reinforced damaging stereotypes about women using their sexuality to advance.

In a previous article, Nuzzi’s colleague Marin Cogan critiqued Hollywood’s portrayal of women journalists using the TV series “House of Cards.” The piece questioned why female reporters are often depicted as sleeping with their sources.

The conclusion? The old clichés about women in journalism persist, and Nuzzi’s actions only serve to perpetuate them.

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@robinkabcarian