The ongoing saga involving US political reporter Olivia Nuzzi, her ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza, and Robert F Kennedy Jr has taken a new turn, with Lizza publishing his own account of alleged infidelities. Nuzzi, known for her access to top Republican figures, recently released an excerpt from her memoir detailing an emotional affair with Kennedy, now US health secretary. Lizza countered with an essay claiming Nuzzi also had an affair with former presidential candidate Mark Sanford.
The drama began with a New York Times profile of Nuzzi, which described her as a 'Lana Del Rey song come to life' and detailed her 'digital affair' with Kennedy. Nuzzi wrote that Kennedy told her he would take a bullet for her, and that they never slept together. She also advised him on campaign issues, including the dead bear carcass story. Kennedy has denied any sexual or romantic relationship, stating they only met once for an interview.
Lizza's essay, published on Monday, used the metaphor of invasive bamboo to describe Nuzzi's secrecy about an alleged affair with Sanford, whom she profiled for New York magazine during his 2020 presidential bid. Lizza claimed Nuzzi became 'infatuated' with Sanford after interviewing him. He ended his account with a cliffhanger, hinting at a second part about Nuzzi's relationship with Kennedy.
The public airing of this personal drama has raised concerns about trust in journalism. A recent Gallup poll found that only 28% of Americans have a 'great deal' or 'fair amount' of trust in news media, down from 31% in 2024. Patrick R Johnson, a journalism professor at Marquette University, warned that such behaviour by high-profile journalists could fuel negative stereotypes, leading the public to assume many journalists act unethically.
While the trope of a journalist sleeping with a source is common in fiction, it is a major ethical violation in reality, creating conflicts of interest. The fallout from this scandal continues to unfold, with no comments from Nuzzi, Lizza, Kennedy, or Sanford on the latest developments.
