Vanity Fair finds itself addressing uncomfortable questions about journalistic standards after its newly appointed West Coast editor became embroiled in a second ethics controversy within months.
The magazine acknowledged Friday it was “taken by surprise” when journalist Olivia Nuzzi’s former fiancé accused her of maintaining a romantic relationship with former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford while covering him for a previous publication. This allegation comes less than a year after Nuzzi departed New York Magazine amid reports of an intimate relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another political figure she had been assigned to cover.
“We were taken by surprise, and we are looking at all the facts,” a Vanity Fair spokesperson stated.
The latest accusations emerged from Ryan Lizza, Nuzzi’s former fiancé and formerly Politico’s chief Washington correspondent. Lizza claimed he discovered during the 2020 election cycle that Nuzzi had been romantically involved with Sanford, the former congressman who famously disappeared from his gubernatorial duties in 2009 to visit a mistress in Argentina.
This marks the second time Nuzzi has faced allegations of crossing ethical boundaries in journalism. Her engagement to Lizza ended following the revelation of her involvement with Kennedy, whom she covered extensively for New York Magazine. Kennedy’s spokesperson has denied any physical relationship occurred, stating the two met only once. Nuzzi has maintained she never had a physical relationship with Kennedy but acknowledged engaging in what she termed “personal” communications. Kennedy remains married to actress Cheryl Hines.
The timing proves particularly awkward for Vanity Fair, which appointed Nuzzi to her West Coast editor position this summer under editorial director Mark Guiducci. The magazine now faces scrutiny over its vetting process for high-profile hires.
Adding another layer to this situation, Nuzzi has authored a book titled “American Canto” scheduled for release next week. According to her attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, the book “discusses the only instance in her long career as a journalist in which she had an improper relationship with someone she was covering.” Wilkenfeld characterized this as referring to the Kennedy matter, though the book reportedly does not explicitly name him.
Lizza has continued detailing his allegations through his newsletter, including claims about digital messages between Nuzzi and Kennedy. These ongoing revelations have kept the controversy in the spotlight even as the involved parties have largely remained silent.
Neither Nuzzi nor Sanford has commented on the latest allegations. New York Magazine has declined to address the matter.
The case raises fundamental questions about the relationship between journalists and their sources, particularly in political reporting where access often depends on cultivating close relationships with powerful figures. The line between professional rapport and personal involvement can blur, but the journalism profession maintains strict ethical standards precisely because crossing that line compromises the independence and credibility that readers depend upon.
As Vanity Fair conducts its review, the broader media industry watches closely. The outcome may influence how publications approach ethical guidelines and oversight in an era when individual journalists often build substantial personal brands through their coverage of prominent political figures.
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