New York magazine writer Olivia Nuzzi has accused her ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza, a prominent political journalist with Politico, of orchestrating a harassment and blackmail campaign against her after their split. These accusations were made in court filings and before a judge in Washington, DC’s Superior Court. The accusations stem from Nuzzi’s previously undisclosed relationship with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., which has led to a discussion of journalism ethics in the national political press.
Nuzzi alleges that Lizza threatened to make personal information about her public to destroy her life, career, and reputation. Lizza denies these allegations. The fallout from Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy has led to her being placed on leave by New York magazine while they conduct a third-party review. Nuzzi had engaged in a personal relationship with Kennedy while reporting on the 2024 campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest.
Lizza, who is Politico’s chief Washington correspondent, was absent from a court hearing where Nuzzi was granted a temporary no-contact order against him. Requests like Nuzzi’s are common in domestic disputes and are typically granted quickly by judges. Lizza provided a statement to CNN denying the allegations and stating that he will vigorously defend himself. The court has set the next hearing for October 15, where Lizza will have a chance to respond to the accusations.
Nuzzi believes Lizza began harassing her in July to blackmail her into restarting their relationship, and when she refused, he allegedly stole a personal device from her, hacked her devices, and anonymously shopped information about her to the media. She also accused him of threatening violence to assume his share of financial responsibility for a joint book contract they had. The court records indicate that Nuzzi believes Lizza may have impersonated an anonymous campaign operative to hurt her further.
In a court proceeding, a judge granted Nuzzi’s request to bar Lizza from contacting her and to keep him away from her and her workplace. Police are to accompany her when she attempts to retrieve her possessions from Lizza. The breakup has impacted both Nuzzi and Lizza’s relationships with their news outlets, with Nuzzi being placed on leave from New York magazine and Lizza no longer writing about Kennedy for Politico. Kennedy’s spokesperson stated that he only met Nuzzi once for an interview and called the resulting article a hit piece.
Overall, the situation between Nuzzi and Lizza has become a topic of interest in the national political press, sparking discussions about journalism ethics. The accusations of harassment and blackmail have garnered attention and led to legal proceedings. Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy has also raised concerns about conflicts of interest and disclosure among journalists. The court will further examine the allegations and allow Lizza to respond at the next hearing.
