Olivia Nuzzi: Biography, Career, RFK Jr. Scandal, Relationships and 2025 Updates

Olivia Nuzzi has spent the last decade at the center of American political journalism — sometimes because of her sharp reporting, and sometimes because of the controversies surrounding her. From writing columns as a teenager in New Jersey to landing major roles in Washington, her career has been fast, dramatic, and closely watched. In 2025, she returned to the spotlight as the new West Coast Editor of Vanity Fair and the author of her memoir American Canto.

Who is Olivia Nuzzi? Full Biography

Olivia Nuzzi was born on January 6, 1993, in New York City and grew up in Middletown Township, New Jersey. She comes from a working-class Italian-American family that lived along the Navesink River.

• Father: John Nuzzi, longtime NYC Sanitation worker (died in 2015)
• Mother: Kelly Nuzzi, a former model who struggled with alcoholism (died in 2021)
• Sibling: Older brother, Jonathan
• Education: Middletown High School South → Fordham University (left in 2014 after landing a full-time reporting job)

Growing up through family losses, financial stress, and witnessing 9/11 from across the river pushed her toward writing and politics at a young age.

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Personal Info

Career Timeline

2011–2013: Teenage Columnist

• Wrote a monthly political column for triCityNews
• Contributed to a local conservative blog
• Interned for Anthony Weiner’s 2013 mayoral campaign and wrote a viral behind-the-scenes article that launched her national career

2014–2017: The Daily Beast

• Hired full-time at age 21
• Covered Rand Paul, Chris Christie, and Donald Trump’s early campaign
• Named to Politico’s “Breakthrough Media Stars” and Forbes 30 Under 30

2017–2024: New York Magazine (Washington Correspondent)

• Conducted one of the most memorable Trump Oval Office interviews (2018)
• Wrote deep profiles of Corey Lewandowski, RFK Jr., and others
• Explored Biden’s age and political circle in major features
• Regular TV guest on MSNBC, Bloomberg, HBO
• Executive-produced an AMC documentary series

2025–Present: Vanity Fair

• Became West Coast Editor in September 2025
• Now covers Hollywood, tech, culture, and politics from Los Angeles
• Released her memoir American Canto on December 2, 2025

Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr. Scandal (2024)

In 2024, Nuzzi became the focus of a major media firestorm after CNN revealed she had an undisclosed “emotional and digital relationship” with presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while reporting on his campaign.

Key points:

• Relationship grew after her November 2023 profile of him
• Included late-night calls, long messages, poems, and “I love you” exchanges
• She later admitted she should have disclosed the relationship
• New York placed her on leave and then separated from her in October 2024
• An internal review found no bias and no inaccuracies in her published work
• RFK Jr.’s team denied anything more than one interview
• The story created intense scrutiny and added strain to RFK Jr.’s marriage to Cheryl Hines

The scandal marked one of the toughest moments of her career and fed a larger debate about boundaries between reporters and political figures.

Relationship History

Olivia Nuzzi’s personal life has often been in the headlines, mostly because her relationships overlapped with her reporting and often involved powerful, older men.

Keith Olbermann (2013–2014)

When Nuzzi was a 20-year-old student at Fordham, she dated 55-year-old former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann. Ryan Lizza later claimed Olbermann paid her rent, bought furniture, clothes, and helped with college costs. Olbermann acknowledged the relationship but denied the “sugar daddy” claims. Nuzzi has never commented on it.

Mark Sanford (Alleged, 2019–2020)

Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford was reportedly involved with Nuzzi while she covered his short 2020 presidential run. Lizza says he found a love letter to Sanford in her bag in 2020. Neither Sanford nor Nuzzi has spoken publicly about it.

Ryan Lizza (2017–2024)

Nuzzi began dating fellow journalist Ryan Lizza around 2017. They got engaged in Italy in 2022 and lived together for years. Their breakup in 2024 was messy and public:

• Nuzzi briefly filed a protective order accusing Lizza of hacking and threats, then withdrew it
• Lizza denied everything and accused her of multiple affairs
• The RFK Jr. scandal unfolded at the same time
  They had no children, and the split became part of the media narrative around her career.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2023–2024)

Nuzzi describes in her memoir that she and RFK Jr. had a deep emotional, non-physical connection lasting almost a year. It included texts, calls, poems, and private conversations while she was reporting on him. This relationship ultimately became public and led to her exit from New York magazine.

Current Status (November 2025)

• Single
• Lives in Malibu, California
• Drives a white Mustang convertible
• Often seen hiking or at San Vicente Bungalows
• No confirmed romantic partner

Major Achievements

• Forbes 30 Under 30 (Media)
• National Magazine Award nominations
• Famous Trump Oval Office interview
• Executive producer of AMC’s A Message From the State
• Big comeback at Vanity Fair
• Author of American Canto (2025)

Final Overview

As of 2025, Olivia Nuzzi remains one of the most talked-about and polarizing journalists in America. She is admired for her bold reporting, criticized for her personal decisions, and constantly watched by both the media and the political world. With her new role at Vanity Fair and the release of her memoir, she is once again at the center of national attention — proving that she remains one of the most influential and resilient voices in political journalism today.

FAQs

Who is Olivia Nuzzi?

Olivia Nuzzi is an American journalist and editor. She currently serves as the West Coast Editor of Vanity Fair (appointed September 2025). She previously worked as the Washington correspondent for New York magazine and covered the 2016 Trump campaign for The Daily Beast.

What is the connection between Olivia Nuzzi and Cheryl Hines?

Cheryl Hines is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s wife. Olivia Nuzzi became linked to Hines indirectly after reports in 2024 claimed Nuzzi had an emotional, non-physical relationship with RFK Jr. while covering his presidential campaign. Hines did not publicly comment, but the situation drew widespread media attention.

What happened between Olivia Nuzzi and RFK?

In 2024, it was reported that Olivia Nuzzi had an “emotional and digital” personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. while reporting on his presidential campaign. This was considered a conflict of interest and led to her being placed on leave by New York magazine.

Is Olivia Nuzzi writing a book?

Yes. In 2025, Simon & Schuster announced her memoir American Canto, which recounts her experiences covering American politics over the past decade. The book is expected to touch on events surrounding the RFK Jr. controversy.

Who is Olivia Nuzzi’s husband?

Olivia Nuzzi is not married. She was previously engaged to journalist Ryan Lizza from 2022 to 2024. Their engagement ended after the RFK Jr. scandal.

What is Olivia Nuzzi doing in 2025?

In 2025, Olivia Nuzzi is serving as the West Coast Editor at Vanity Fair. She is also preparing for the release of her memoir American Canto.

Who was Olivia Nuzzi’s fiancé?

Her fiancé was Ryan Lizza, Politico’s chief Washington correspondent. They were engaged in 2022, but the relationship ended in 2024

Are there Olivia Nuzzi bikini photos?

Nuzzi does not publicly share bikini or swimsuit photos, and none are part of her professional presence. Searches for such images generally lead to unrelated or irrelevant content.