Olivia Nuzzi Discusses Alleged Relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a recent interview, political journalist Olivia Nuzzi opened up about her purported relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his 2024 campaign, expressing that she felt quite overwhelmed by the situation.
“I was over it,” Nuzzi shared during her talk with Tim Miller from Bulwark. She acknowledged her mistakes, stating, “I violated ethical codes that exist for a reason. They are important, but I messed up.”
Nuzzi, who authored the book “American Canto,” reflected on the role of “shame” in her life and how others encouraged her to be “shameless” when the controversy erupted last year. “Many told me to just keep pushing forward. After the election, he would take on something new. They said, ‘Everyone else involved is shameless, so why shouldn’t you be?’ But I believe shame has its place,” she remarked.
“It wasn’t a simple mistake that happened overnight. There were a lot of underlying issues that led to a warped perspective on my choices,” she continued. Nuzzi described the experience as a significant moment in her life that she couldn’t ignore. Initially, she entertained the idea of advancing it—briefly feeling euphoric—only to realize that she couldn’t live with that decision.
Nuzzi maintained a “diminished view” of her secret meetings with RFK Jr., particularly as his approval ratings dropped following her profile of him in New York Magazine back in November 2023.
She also responded to allegations about assisting Kennedy with handling reports regarding a dead bear left in Central Park. “My approach was more about guiding him in finding his own way rather than giving him direct advice,” she explained, adding that she cared for him in a significant way but didn’t see it as her role to dictate his actions.
Nuzzi’s former employer, New York Magazine, parted ways with her amid the revelations while conducting an investigation, which ultimately found no signs of bias or inaccuracies in her reporting.
A spokesperson for Kennedy previously denied any physical relationship with Nuzzi, claiming they had only met once. Complicating matters, last month, Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé claimed he had his own affair while covering a former governor during the 2020 Republican primaries.
Nuzzi’s attorney mentioned that her book addresses her one instance of an inappropriate relationship throughout her journalistic career. Interestingly, this was not brought up during the hour-long interview she had with Miller.
Recently, Vanity Fair appointed Nuzzi as West Coast editor, and they expressed surprise over the allegations made against her. They stated they are currently assessing all the details surrounding the situation. Although there hasn’t been any further comment from Vanity Fair, a source within Condé Nast indicated that an internal review is still in progress.
