Career setbacks in journalism often leave lasting scars, but sometimes they also open unexpected doors.
Olivia Nuzzi, once at the center of a media firestorm, is stepping back into the spotlight with a high-profile new role at Vanity Fair.
At just 32, Nuzzi announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she’s been appointed as the magazine’s West Coast Editor—a major comeback after her career was derailed last year.
Vanity Fair Confirms Her Appointment
The news didn’t just come from her. Vanity Fair also confirmed the hire in a post that introduced 12 new editorial additions.
“Olivia Nuzzi joins Vanity Fair as West Coast Editor,” the statement read, noting that she’ll be responsible for editing and writing stories spanning multiple platforms.
Her focus will largely cover events, industries, and cultural trends across the Pacific region.
This signals a big editorial reshuffle at the iconic magazine, guided by global editorial director Mark Guiducci.
He praised the new recruits as “fearless” voices with substance and style, ready to shape the publication’s future.
From D.C. Power Circles to Scandal
Nuzzi built her reputation as the Washington correspondent for New York Magazine between 2017 and 2024, where she became known for sharp reporting on political figures in the nation’s capital.
But everything changed when reports surfaced about an alleged “digital affair” with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was running as an independent presidential candidate at the time.
Sources described their connection as “emotional and digital, not physical,” though Kennedy’s team insisted he had only met her once during an interview.
Fallout With RFK Jr. and Cheryl Hines
Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, continued to appear at his campaign events but reportedly avoided living in the Georgetown home the couple bought, saying she wasn’t comfortable with the political glare.
An internal investigation at New York Magazine cleared Nuzzi of bias, stating her reporting on Kennedy contained “no inaccuracies.”
But the controversy was too big to ignore, and she ultimately left her post.
Personal Life Unravels in Public
The scandal didn’t just impact her career. It spilled into her personal life as well. Nuzzi’s engagement to fellow journalist Ryan Lizza collapsed after the allegations surfaced.
Things only grew more bitter when she accused Lizza of blackmail and threats—claims she later withdrew.
Lizza, for his part, strongly denied everything, calling her accusations “disgraceful lies” and part of a smear campaign.
Lizza himself had already faced scrutiny. A former New Yorker reporter, he was ousted in 2017 over sexual misconduct allegations he also denied. Since then, he’s built a career at Politico.
A Fresh Start in California
Now, Nuzzi gets the chance to rebuild her career in a fresh environment.
As West Coast Editor at Vanity Fair, she’ll be working on stories that reflect not just Hollywood and tech culture but also the broader industries shaping the Pacific region.
It’s a role that brings her out of Washington’s political bubble and into a space where her reporting style—sharp, fearless, and sometimes polarizing—could thrive.
For Nuzzi, this isn’t just a job. It’s a second act.