Olivia Nuzzi, a former political journalist, became emotional while justifying her choice not to criticize Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She expressed feeling “terrified” of her ex-fiancé, Ryan Rizza, who previously worked at Politico.
Tim Miller from Bulwark criticized Nuzzi for withholding information that could have been pertinent during Kennedy’s challenging confirmation. He pressed her on whether she still held feelings for the Trump Cabinet.
“I don’t know how to handle myself responsibly in front of the cameras,” Nuzzi admitted after hesitating. “I’m writing about how I personally felt in that scene you’re referring to.”
In her new book, “American Cunt,” she revealed that she had feelings for Kennedy, though she only labeled him as a “politician.” Miller argued that she was also taking steps to support Kennedy’s agenda, claiming his actions were questionable in his current position.
“I lost my job and ended up in hiding, feeling scared,” Nuzzi said, her composure faltering. “I was scared of the man I didn’t marry and worried about people figuring out where I was.”
After a moment of distress, the Vanity Fair editor requested a break from the interview and apologized to a visibly uncomfortable Miller.
Nuzzi’s book also claims that Kennedy had used the hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in secret. She stated, “He was telling me he wasn’t sober and was hiding it not just from the public but from his wife,” adding that there were limits to what she could disclose.
Kennedy has not publicly addressed the situation, but his wife, Cheryl Hines, has reportedly called Nuzzi a “liar.”
Nuzzi, once a prominent political reporter at New York Magazine, faced backlash after being dismissed due to a scandal involving Kennedy. Rizza, now 51, asserted in a detailed piece published on Telos News’ Substack that Nuzzi had acted as an unofficial advisor to Kennedy’s unsuccessful independent run ahead of the 2024 election, breaching journalistic ethics.
Reflecting on her actions, Nuzzi stated, “I would have failed, right? I would have done something wrong. These ethical rules exist for a reason.” She noted that Kennedy approached her for advice in a way that didn’t commit him to taking it.
Nuzzi criticized Rizza, who is currently involved with Caroline Mottley, a former staff member for Kamala Harris. Mottley, younger than Rizza, is known for her strong pro-choice activism and self-described misandry.
Nuzzi lashed out at the way Rizza portrayed her in an effort she believes misused journalistic ideals. She expressed frustration over being targeted and likened it to a destructive campaign, stating that the only responsible method for a journalist would have been to share the details with an unbiased organization.
Interestingly, Nuzzi also waited until her book’s release before sharing her insights instead of directly reporting them to other journalists. She recalled a moment of frustration regarding the environmental impact of printing her book, stating, “I took it very seriously. This is not an effort to brand myself a certain way.”
