The Forbidden Digital Romance That Rocked Washington
In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through political circles, prominent journalist Olivia Nuzzi has finally broken her silence about her alleged 'digital' affair with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The explosive details emerge from her forthcoming book, American Canto, obtained by The New York Times, where she describes falling deeply in love with an unnamed politician during the 2023 presidential campaign.
A Crossed Boundary With Consequences
Nuzzi, who served as New York Magazine's first-ever Washington correspondent, writes candidly about developing genuine romantic feelings for Kennedy despite both being in committed relationships - she was engaged to journalist Ryan Lizza, while Kennedy had been married to actress Cheryl Hines for ten years. The relationship, which she describes as occurring while covering Kennedy's presidential campaign, ultimately cost Nuzzi her prestigious position when the magazine placed her on leave in September 2024.
According to Nuzzi's account, Kennedy developed pet names for her, calling her 'Livvy' and composing poems in her honour. She found herself captivated by his 'blue as a flame' eyes and his emotional sensitivity, noting how 'the sight of something as trivial as a rose' could move him to tears. Yet she also admits being drawn to his 'particular complications and particular darkness.'
The Fallout and Political Survival
The situation reached its climax as the 2024 election approached, with Kennedy having dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump. Nuzzi claims Kennedy told her, 'If it's just sex, I can survive it,' two months before the election. Behind the scenes, as the scandal threatened to derail Kennedy's political ambitions, Nuzzi secretly promised him she would do whatever necessary for his survival.
Her loyalty came at great personal cost. After taking responsibility for what she described as communication that 'turned personal' with a reporting subject, Nuzzi entered self-imposed exile in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Kennedy's political career continued unabated - he was nominated for the HHS secretary position just days after Trump won the election.
Nuzzi's former fiancé, Ryan Lizza, had previously revealed in court filings that she described the relationship as 'toxic' and 'psychotic', acknowledging the 'huge power disparity' between herself and the prominent political figure. Most shockingly, Lizza claimed Nuzzi told him Kennedy wanted to 'impregnate' her, a claim that aligns with Nuzzi's own assertion in her book that he wanted her to have his baby.
Moving Forward After the Scandal
Nearly a year after the scandal broke, Nuzzi received professional redemption when Vanity Fair announced in September they had hired her as West Coast editor. Her book's release was strategically delayed to avoid coinciding with the memoir of Kennedy's wife, Cheryl Hines, whose book Unscripted was published just three days ago.
When pressed by The New York Times about whether she retained proof of the alleged affair, such as text messages, Nuzzi remained evasive, stating simply, 'I don't have anything to say about that.' She confirmed that communication between herself and Kennedy has completely ceased, telling the newspaper, 'I haven't spoken to him in a year.'
The affair raises serious questions about power dynamics in political journalism and the boundaries between reporters and their subjects. Neither Kennedy, Nuzzi, nor Hines responded to requests for comment about these latest revelations, leaving many questions unanswered about one of Washington's most intriguing modern political scandals.
