Vanity Fair and Olivia Nuzzi cut ties as RFK Jr. relationship drama continues to unfold
In a dramatic turn of events, journalist Olivia Nuzzi and Vanity Fair have mutually agreed to part ways, marking the end of Nuzzi’s tenure at the magazine that began in September 2025. This decision comes in the wake of a turbulent personal and professional landscape for Nuzzi, particularly her controversial relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate. Nuzzi’s connection with RFK Jr. has been a focal point of scrutiny, especially after revelations surfaced regarding their relationship while she was reporting on him. Although a third-party investigation cleared her of bias in her reporting for New York magazine, it concluded that her relationship with RFK Jr. breached the publication’s conflict-of-interest policies, ultimately leading to her departure from that outlet in 2024.
The fallout from Nuzzi’s personal life has been further complicated by accusations from her ex-fiancé, political journalist Ryan Lizza. Following their split, Lizza has made a series of allegations against Nuzzi on his Substack, claiming she engaged in unethical practices, including using her journalistic position to suppress negative stories about RFK Jr. Nuzzi has responded to these attacks by describing them as a form of harassment and has accused Lizza of attempting to destroy her career. Their public feud has escalated since the release of Nuzzi’s memoir, “American Canto,” which reflects on her decade-long journey in political journalism and her tumultuous relationship with RFK Jr. In a statement regarding her departure, both Nuzzi and Vanity Fair expressed that the decision was made in the best interest of the magazine, signaling a need for both parties to move on from the controversy that has overshadowed Nuzzi’s work.
As Nuzzi embarks on this new chapter, her memoir stands as a testament to her experiences in a high-stakes political environment, while also serving as a reminder of the personal challenges that can arise in the world of journalism. The ongoing saga between Nuzzi and Lizza highlights the complexities of maintaining journalistic integrity amidst personal relationships, raising questions about the ethical boundaries that journalists must navigate. With the conclusion of her contract at Vanity Fair, Nuzzi’s future in journalism remains uncertain, but her story is sure to resonate as a cautionary tale about the intertwining of personal and professional lives in the public eye.
Olivia Nuzzi and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are at the center of a swirling story.
Roy Rochlin; STEFANI REYNOLDS / Getty Images
Vanity Fair and journalist Olivia Nuzzi are severing ties, the outlet confirmed to Business Insider.
Nuzzi’s relationship with RFK Jr. has been the subject of controversy and is discussed in her book “American Canto.”
Her ex, political journalist Ryan Lizza, has been making sordid allegations on his Substack.
Journalist Olivia Nuzzi and Vanity Fair are severing ties.
Nuzzi joined Vanity Fair
in September 2025, after departing New York magazine in 2024 in the wake of revelations that she’d had a relationship with her source, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, then a presidential candidate.
The fallout from the affair has continued after Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé, former Politico correspondent Ryan Lizza, recently accused Nuzzi of additional ethical breaches.
“Vanity Fair and Olivia Nuzzi have mutually agreed, in the best interest of the magazine, to let her contract expire at the end of the year,” according to a joint statement from spokespeople for Vanity Fair and Nuzzi provided to Business Insider.
A third-party investigation into her reporting at New York magazine revealed no bias, but the magazine said at the time that her relationship with the ex-presidential candidate violated their conflict-of-interest standards.
Following her split with Lizza and New York magazine, Nuzzi, a former star political reporter, moved to Los Angeles. She published a memoir, “American Canto” on Tuesday, in which she detailed the past 10 years of political reporting and her relationship with “the politician,” understood to be RFK Jr.
Since their split,
Lizza and Nuzzi have been engaged in an ongoing reputational battle, with each publicly accusing the other of engaging in behaviors that, while not illegal, undermine each other’s journalistic credibility.
Nuzzi, in a petition for a temporary protective order against him in late 2024, accused Lizza of blackmailing her and threatening to
destroy her career
, which Lizza has denied. She later withdrew the petition.
After a lull, the public acrimony continued with the revelation of Nuzzi’s book, followed by a series of Substack posts from Lizza.
He has suggested in online postings that Nuzzi used her position as a reporter to “catch and kill” unflattering stories about RFK Jr. He also accused her of having another unusual relationship with a different subject.
A spokesperson for Nuzzi did not respond to questions about Lizza’s allegations. In a post for Emily Sundberg’s Substack,
Feed Me
, she wrote it was “another attempt to harass, humiliate, and harm me until I am as destroyed as he seems to be,” and called Lizza’s posts “fan fiction-slash-revenge porn.”
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