After journalist Olivia Nuzzi filed a no-contact order against ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza, he responded with bombshell accusations about the reporter’s alleged relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Nuzzi had been cheating on me with a married man for almost a year,” Lizza claimed in court documents filed on Monday, October 14, and obtained by Page Six.
He added, “She admitted the affair and over the course of weeks of conversations she confided how she fell into what she described as ‘toxic’ ‘unhealthy’ ‘stupid’ ‘psychotic’ ‘crazy’ ‘indefensible’ relationship with a 70-year-old ‘sex addict’ who told her he wanted to ‘possess,’ ‘control,’ and ‘impregnate’ her.”
Neither Nuzzi nor Kennedy, 70, have responded to Lizza’s allegations. Us Weekly has reached out for comment.
Olivia Nuzzi Accuses Ex Ryan Lizza of Exposing Details to ‘Destroy’ Her
In her own legal motion earlier this month, Nuzzi alleged that Lizza illegally surveyed her to learn of the affair. He denied the claims, asserting in his filing that “everything [he knows] about her affair comes directly from Ms. Nuzzi herself.”
News broke of Nuzzi’s alleged “inappropriate personal relationship” with Kennedy shortly after she conducted an interview about his political career for New York Magazine. In September, the magazine addressed Nuzzi allegedly failing to disclose her relationship status with Kennedy.
“She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust,” the magazine’s statement read, in part.
Neither New York Magazine nor Nuzzi publicly named the former presidential candidate at the time, but CNN and The New York Times both reported that Kennedy was indeed the subject. In a statement to The Times, Nuzzi denied having a physical relationship with Kennedy.
Cheryl Hines and Husband RFK Jr. Spotted Holding Hands Amid Scandal
“I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source. The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict,” Nuzzi said in her statement. “I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”
Kennedy also denied the affair through his spokesperson. “Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece,” the rep told NBC News in a statement last month.
Both Nuzzi and Kennedy were involved in preexisting relationships, with Lizza calling off his engagement to Nuzzi in light of the scandal. Kennedy, meanwhile, has been married to actress Cheryl Hines since 2014 following previous divorces.
Hines, 59, has not publicly spoken about the controversy, though a source exclusively told Us Weekly that she was more “upset” about her husband’s political ties than the affair speculation.
“Cheryl wasn’t so upset about the alleged affair, but more about how her husband’s involvement with Trump will affect her in Hollywood,” the insider told Us earlier this month. “[RFK Jr.’s] political outspokenness has garnered a lot of polarizing attention. She‘s worried that it will hinder her work opportunities, given her long career.”
Hines and Kennedy, who each share children with past partners, were spotted holding hands on Saturday, October 12, days after his mother, Ethel, died at age 96.
