Vanity Fair recently expressed surprise after accusations emerged regarding Olivia Nuzzi, their newly appointed West Coast editor. Her ex-fiancé accused her of having a romantic involvement with Mark Sanford, a former governor and congressman from South Carolina, who Nuzzi had reported on. This isn’t the first time Nuzzi has faced scrutiny for her journalistic ethics; she left New York Magazine last year following controversies surrounding her relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who she also covered.
Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé, Ryan Rizza, claimed he uncovered her relationship with Sanford during the 2020 campaign. The magazine’s leadership, particularly Editor-in-Chief Mark Guiducci, had high expectations when bringing Nuzzi onboard this summer, and this situation complicates matters significantly.
A spokesperson for Vanity Fair stated they are reviewing the facts surrounding these claims. Nuzzi has remained silent on the allegations about Sanford. Interestingly, she’s expected to release a book titled “American Canto” next week, which discusses her only known inappropriate relationship as a journalist—without directly naming Kennedy, however.
Nuzzi’s attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, confirmed the book’s relevance, claiming it addresses her only such instance in her career. Meanwhile, inquiries into comments from Nuzzi and Sanford have gone unanswered, as has New York Magazine’s input.
Recent discussions suggest that Nuzzi’s performance within Vanity Fair has been underwhelming, with some staff expressing that she may not be meeting expectations in her role. Guiducci’s recruitment of Nuzzi was a notable decision for the brand since he took over as global editorial director in June.
