Condé Nast, the parent company of Vanity Fair, is currently evaluating the troubling allegations surrounding West Coast editor Olivia Nuzzi, according to sources. Nuzzi, appointed by Vanity Fair’s Editor-in-Chief Mark Guiducci earlier this summer, left New York Magazine last year following allegations of a romantic relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom she interviewed for the publication.
This controversy reportedly contributed to the end of Nuzzi’s engagement with Ryan Rizza, a former Politico correspondent and co-author of “Playbook,” who has since exited the magazine. Recently, Rizza made waves by claiming that Nuzzi had a romantic involvement with ex-South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford during the 2020 campaign. This revelation has raised questions about journalistic ethics, prompting Vanity Fair to look into the matter.
In a statement last month, a Vanity Fair spokesperson expressed surprise over the situation and mentioned that they were exploring all facts. Following this, Rizza released more sensational claims about Nuzzi, stating that she may have used her position with New York Magazine to support Kennedy’s political ambitions and hinted at a possible breach of Florida’s two-party consent law by surreptitiously recording President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Nuzzi dismissed these allegations, referring to them as “fan fiction, slash, revenge porn.”
While Condé Nast has not offered any further comments since their initial statement, an insider indicated that the review process is ongoing. Although no conclusions have been reached, it’s reported that Nuzzi isn’t a full-time employee and her contract is set to expire at the end of the year. Vanity Fair staff reportedly expect her contract may simply lapse without renewal.
Attempts to garner responses from Condé Nast regarding Nuzzi’s current involvement with the magazine have gone unanswered.
Lisa Heller, a consultant representing Nuzzi, also did not reply to inquiries for comment. Meanwhile, New York Magazine, where Nuzzi faced scrutiny for her past actions, chose not to make any statements. The magazine had previously spent weeks reviewing Nuzzi’s work before they parted ways.
Nuzzi recently published a book titled “American Canto,” discussing her alleged online relationship with Kennedy, though she refers to him as merely a “politician” without naming him directly.
Ari Wilkenfeld, Nuzzi’s attorney, stated that the book addresses the only instance in her extensive journalism career in which she had an inappropriate relationship with a subject. A representative for Kennedy has previously denied any physical relationship, insisting he only met Nuzzi once. Nuzzi asserts that while there was no physical contact, they engaged in “personal” communication.
