In a stunning revelation that upends one of the strangest political stories of recent years, journalist Olivia Nuzzi has claimed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr may never have actually suffered from the infamous 'brain worm' that became a cultural phenomenon during his presidential campaign.
The Brain Worm Controversy Revisited
Nuzzi's forthcoming book, American Canto, set for release on December 2, contains explosive claims about her alleged digital relationship with the now-Health and Human Services Secretary while simultaneously debunking one of the most bizarre medical stories in modern political history.
The brain worm saga began in May 2024 when the New York Times revealed that Kennedy had testified during his 2012 divorce proceedings about a doctor's belief that he had a dead parasite in his head. The story immediately captured public imagination, spawning a Saturday Night Live sketch and reinforcing narratives about Kennedy's transformation from respected environmental lawyer to controversial anti-vaccine figure.
However, Nuzzi writes that Kennedy personally assured her the diagnosis was inaccurate. 'Baby don't worry,' he tells her in the book. 'It's not a worm.'
A Digital Affair and Its Consequences
The brain worm revelation comes amidst Nuzzi's account of her alleged non-physical relationship with Kennedy, which she describes as turning personal after beginning as professional correspondence. According to her book, Kennedy referred to her as 'Livvy' and 'baby,' wrote her poems, and even expressed desire for her to have his child.
The scandal broke in September 2024, leading to Nuzzi being placed on leave from her position as New York Magazine's first Washington correspondent. At the time, she was engaged to prominent political reporter Ryan Lizza, while Kennedy was married to Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines.
Nuzzi describes how Kennedy frequently told her 'I would take a bullet for you,' but when the story of their relationship emerged, she claims his attitude changed dramatically. 'I need you to take a bullet for me,' she quotes him as saying after the scandal broke.
Political Fallout and Aftermath
The timing of the relationship's exposure proved particularly significant, occurring after Kennedy had dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump, but before his appointment to the Cabinet. A week after the election, Trump offered Kennedy the position of Health and Human Services Secretary.
Nuzzi responded to the scandal by retreating to Malibu, California, where she interspersed details about surviving wildfires with reflections on the aftermath of her political entanglement. She poignantly notes in her book that 'you cannot outrun your life on fire.'
Meanwhile, she observes how 'the Politician offers a united front and a rewritten history,' suggesting Kennedy managed to distance himself from the controversy while she faced the consequences alone.
The book excerpt, published by Vanity Fair on Monday morning, never explicitly names Kennedy, referring to him throughout as 'the Politician.' However, the identification becomes unmistakable when Nuzzi references 'the worm in his brain that other people found so funny.'
Nuzzi, now Vanity Fair's West Coast editor, acknowledges public perception of Kennedy as a 'madman' but offers a more nuanced portrayal, writing: 'He was not quite mad the way they thought, but I loved the private ways that he was mad.'
The journalist concludes her account with stark self-reflection about her role in the affair, stating simply: 'After all, I was asking for it.'
