RFK Jr skips niece’s pre-wedding celebration amid rumored 'relationship' with journalist Olivia Nuzzi

HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS: Robert F Kennedy Jr was noticeably absent from the pre-wedding celebrations of his niece, Grace Kennedy Allen, and speculation is swirling as to why.

As the rest of the Kennedy clan gathered for the festivities in Hyannis Port on Saturday, September 21, Bobby's absence did not go unnoticed - especially considering he is rumored to be caught up in a personal scandal.

Grace Kennedy Allen’s pre-wedding party brought the extended Kennedy family together in Massachusetts, a classic Kennedy affair by the water. Photos obtained by Page Six showed the family enjoying some time in Hyannis Harbor, with a typical Cape Cod rainstorm adding a bit of drama to the day.

But the big question was: Where was Bobby? At 70 years old, he’s been living in Malibu, so his no-show in Massachusetts has people talking. It’s still unclear whether he plans to attend the actual wedding of Grace, the granddaughter of the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Given how tight-knit the Kennedy family is, it’s odd to imagine him not being present.

Olivia Nuzzi’s controversial confession

And now we get to the heart of the scandal - journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Just two days before the Kennedy family gathered in Hyannis Port, Nuzzi, 31, was placed on leave by New York magazine.

This came after she confessed to the editors that she had “engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign.”

According to the magazine, this violated their “standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures.” The publication noted that "had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign."

Nuzzi didn’t name the person she had a personal relationship with, but a source told CNN that it was none other than Bobby. She issued a statement to People saying that earlier this year, her communications with the unnamed subject had turned personal. She stressed that during this time she did not report on or use the individual as a source.

"The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict,” she explained. “I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York."

RFK Jr's side of the story

While Olivia Nuzzi’s side of the story had everyone buzzing, Bobby’s camp was quick to respond.

A representative for Kennedy told The Washington Post that Bobby — who is married to actress Cheryl Hines — had only met Nuzzi once during an interview she requested. That interview — which culminated in an article titled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr’s Spoiler Campaign” — didn’t exactly paint Bobby in the best light.

It ran in New York magazine in November 2023. The rep stressed that there was no ongoing relationship and dismissed the rumors swirling around Bobby and Nuzzi.

Nuzzi had been reporting on the 2024 campaign and has referenced Kennedy in a few of her articles. One of these was a June piece arguing that Kennedy should have been allowed to debate Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. Another was an opinion piece from March where she criticized how the media had been covering Bobby.

But Nuzzi isn’t just known for her reporting. She’s also dabbled in television, having made a cameo appearance as herself in an episode of 'Billions' in 2022. She’s also the host of Bloomberg’s original series 'Working Capital with Olivia Nuzzi'.

Despite her impressive resume, New York magazine placed her on leave and conducted an internal review of her published work. So far the review has found "no inaccuracies or bias," but the magazine is taking the matter seriously and conducting a more thorough investigation.

Observers react to the drama between RFK Jr and Olivia Nuzzi

People magazine’s readers had a lot to say about the situation.

"If she wants to maintain any dignity and self-respect, Cheryl Hines needs to get herself away from this guy asap," one commented.

"He is a major disaster," another chimed in.

"Wow. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?" read a remark.

"Do we really need all this drama? The party of the right has destroyed our election process. Sad," someone else offered.

"What is this, the third or fourth generation of Kennedy carousing? Are they off the American pedestal yet?" another asked.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online