Political journalists Ryan Lizza and Olivia Nuzzi were engaged in a messy breakup after Nuzzi had a year-long affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Lizza accused Kennedy of manipulating Nuzzi and causing the breakup by wanting to “possess,” “control,” and “impregnate” her. The fallout between the two journalists has raised questions about their work ethics and coverage related to the presidential election and Kennedy’s status as a well-known descendant.
In court filings, Lizza denied allegations made by Nuzzi of threatening, hacking, or stalking her. He claimed that he did not disclose her relationship with Kennedy to her editors at New York magazine and that most of what he knew about the affair came directly from Nuzzi herself. A protective order was previously secured by Nuzzi against Lizza, but a recent court hearing did not address the specific accusations made by both parties. A more detailed court hearing, possibly involving evidence and witness testimony, is scheduled for mid-November.
An attorney for Lizza declined to comment further on the ongoing court dispute, while an unnamed counsel for Nuzzi accused Lizza of attempting to harass and humiliate her. Nuzzi’s statement emphasized that her only goal in seeking intervention from law enforcement and the court is to ensure her safety and be left alone. The court had previously granted Nuzzi’s request to bar Lizza from contacting her and to provide police protection for her to collect her belongings from their shared home.
Lizza responded to Nuzzi’s accusations of defamation in court filings, stating that he was devastated when he found out about her affair and ended their engagement as a result. The breakup occurred in mid-August after Lizza confronted Nuzzi about the relationship, which she described as “toxic,” “unhealthy,” and “psychotic.” Lizza mentioned advising Nuzzi to remove reporting material she had received from Kennedy for an article she was working on for New York magazine and suggested that she pay back a publisher’s advance payment for a joint book project they had planned.
Lizza also mentioned previous personal indiscretions by Nuzzi in the 2020 presidential cycle that had sabotaged their book project. Despite Nuzzi’s admissions and the fallout from the affair with Kennedy, Lizza expressed a desire to help and protect Nuzzi from the relationship but doubted the possibility of a future together. The court filings shed light on the complicated dynamics between the two journalists and their professional and personal relationships, leading to a contentious legal battle with implications for their careers.
