Scandalous affair with RFK Jr, substance abuse, and bear cubs: The downfall of journalism's power couple

Olivia Nuzzi, once known for her sharp, gossip-infused reporting and compared to a modern Hunter S. Thompson in heels, has become a central figure in a high-profile media scandal. Ryan Lizza, 20 years her senior and chief Washington correspondent for Politico, had been her partner, making them one of Washington journalism's most prominent couples. Their relationship became public last year when allegations emerged that Nuzzi had an affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while covering his presidential campaign.

Her book, American Canto, released Tuesday, contains extensive new revelations. Nuzzi recounts her alleged relationship with Kennedy and discloses further details, including reports of psychedelic drug use by Donald Trumps current health secretary during his campaign, her brother threatening violence against her ex-fiance, and her potential career rescue at Vanity Fair had she authored a tell-all about the affair. The memoir arrives amid intense media scrutiny of the couple's breakup.

Ryan Lizza, 51, responded with a series of public posts in the weeks preceding the book's launch. Among his claims, he accused Nuzzi of a 2020 affair with former presidential candidate Mark Sanford and published suggestive poetry he attributed to Kennedy. These posts appeared strategically timed just before the anticipated media coverage of Nuzzi's memoir. The New York Times featured a profile of her, describing her as the modern iteration of a Hitchcock blonde, coinciding with the book release.

Nuzzi, 31, offers her perspective on the highly publicized affair with Kennedy, referred to in the book as The Politician. She recounts the strain on her career at New York Magazine and her escalating fears of her life unraveling. Nuzzi even enlisted a friend to check her car for GPS trackers, while her brother suggested extreme measures against Lizza for allegedly leaking personal material to the press. The affair reportedly began in 2023 during her coverage of Kennedys independent campaign, and she was placed on leave as the news became public.

In the book, Nuzzi confirms that she assisted Kennedy in managing his media image. One notable anecdote involves the former presidential hopeful disposing of a dead bear cub in Manhattans Central Park years earlier, which she advised him to frame positively rather than making it the centerpiece of a story. She also writes candidly about his recreational drug use and the private moments of their relationship.

She details helping Kennedy navigate decisions about political endorsements, describing moments of vulnerability and exhaustion during their private discussions. Her account highlights the complexity of balancing her professional role with intimate knowledge of his personal life.

As the release date approached, Lizza shared further posts revealing he had discovered an early draft of American Canto, suggesting that Nuzzi intended for their story to be public. Kennedy, married to actress Cheryl Hines for over a decade, has denied any affair, claiming he met Nuzzi only once for an interview. Sanford has not commented on the allegations.

Author: Sophia Brooks