Has Olivia Nuzzi's recent return to Vanity Fair come to an end already?

In September, Vanity Fair, under the direction of its newly appointed top editor Mark Guiducci, revealed a series of new hires. Among them was political journalist Olivia Nuzzi, a once-prominent figure who had recently been absent from major media headlines. Nuzzi had previously parted ways with New York Magazine in October after reports emerged that she had a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose presidential campaign she had been covering.

Guiducci announced Nuzzis hiring as West Coast editor, emphasizing the magazines desire for writers with a fearlessness and distinct perspective, capable of combining substance with style.

However, Nuzzis position at Vanity Fair has quickly become uncertain. On November 17, her former fianc Ryan Lizza began releasing a series of articles detailing their relationship and accusing Nuzzi of journalistic misconduct. Among the claims was an alleged affair with former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, a 2020 Republican presidential candidate.

Initially, Vanity Fair did not comment, waiting four days before issuing a brief statement: We were taken by surprise, and we are looking at all the facts. Since then, the magazine has remained silent about Nuzzis employment status, leaving staff uninformed. A Vanity Fair spokesperson declined to comment, and Nuzzi herself did not respond to inquiries about whether she remains on staff.

Nuzzis profile of Sanford had appeared in New York Magazine, which also declined to comment regarding her reporting amid the revelations. It is notable that Nuzzis contract with Vanity Fair is temporary, expiring at the end of the year, and would require renewal for her to continue. Reports indicated she was expected to transition to a full-time role in the new year.

The controversy also raises questions about Guiducci, who started as Vanity Fairs global editorial director that summer. Janice Min, CEO of the Ankler and former editor-in-chief of US Weekly, described the hiring as a rookie error but noted it remains unclear how this will impact Guiduccis reputation.

The unfolding situation may hinge on additional material Lizza plans to release. He has already hinted at further installments, including claims that Nuzzi engaged in catch-and-kill practices for Kennedy, gathering negative information about him from sources and feeding it directly to the candidate. In his writings, Lizza emphasized that such actions undermine trust in journalism and raised concerns about how sources could rely on her as an editor.

Nuzzi publicly responded for the first time during a Q&A session tied to the release of her book American Canto, calling Lizzas reporting abusive and describing it as an exaggerated public attack. Nevertheless, Lizza continued to publish excerpts, including a memo Nuzzi allegedly wrote for Kennedy offering campaign advice. While these communications are unverified, Nuzzi admitted in her book to providing informal guidance.

During interviews, Nuzzi provided few details on her professional future, stating she does not plan to return to campaign reporting, a role she was not slated for at Vanity Fair. She acknowledged her past mistakes, reflecting on the importance of journalistic ethics. Meanwhile, her book has seen limited success, ranking low on sales charts.

Sources:

• Is Olivia Nuzzi’s nascent Vanity Fair comeback already over?

Author: Ethan Caldwell
Ethan Caldwell is an experienced reporter with 10 years covering international news. He specializes in politics and economics, with strong investigative journalism and analytical writing skills.