Ex-Fiancé Alleges Olivia Nuzzi Helped RFK Jr. Bury Bear-Dumping Scandal

Ryan Lizza, a journalist and the ex-fiancé of Olivia Nuzzi, has published a series of posts alleging that Nuzzi acted as a covert political operative for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his presidential bid, and that she suppressed reporting that could have damaged his campaign.

Allegations and timeline. According to Lizza's account, Nuzzi learned in 2024 that Kennedy had dumped the body of a bear cub in Central Park in 2014. Rather than publishing the tip, Lizza says she disclosed the source to Kennedy and helped him prepare responses to minimize public fallout. The bear episode prompted an animal-cruelty inquiry and, Lizza asserts, remained unresolved until Kennedy publicly addressed the matter in August 2024.

Other claimed interventions. Lizza further alleges that during 2024 Nuzzi gathered opposition research and intelligence from sources who trusted her, then passed that material directly to Kennedy instead of reporting it. He says she assisted in negotiating elements of Kennedy's endorsement talks with Donald Trump, worked to clarify delays in Secret Service protection for Kennedy by contacting insiders, and discouraged at least one campaign staffer from going public about sensitive internal matters—later identifying that staffer to Kennedy.

Explosive recording allegation. Lizza also claims Nuzzi provided an artist at Mar-a-Lago with a concealed recorder that captured a remark by the president about the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Lizza states that, if authenticated, the recording would be historically significant; this allegation remains unverified in public reporting.

Context and other allegations in the series. This installment is part of a multi-part Substack series in which Lizza has made additional claims, including that Nuzzi had personal relationships with multiple public figures and that he published intimate material he attributes to Kennedy. Lizza was dismissed from a previous position at a magazine in 2017 following a sexual-misconduct allegation he has denied.

Nuzzi's response and memoir. Nuzzi, who later took a role as West Coast editor at a major magazine, released an excerpt of her forthcoming memoir in which she describes wrestling with a complicated emotional relationship with Kennedy while questioning aspects of his health. She has acknowledged an emotional connection with Kennedy that she says was non-physical and did not influence her reporting. She has disputed the characterization of her actions in Lizza's posts.

Legal and professional fallout. When the allegations surfaced, Nuzzi was placed on leave by her employer and later parted ways with that outlet. In October 2024 she sought a protection order against Lizza alleging harassment and threats, then asked the court to withdraw the request. Kennedy has denied an affair and remains married to Cheryl Hines.

What is verified and what remains alleged. Many of the details in Lizza's account are presented as allegations in his Substack series. They have not been fully corroborated in independent public records. Readers should treat the claims as contested and note that the parties involved offer differing accounts.

Note: This article summarizes allegations made by Ryan Lizza. It does not assert these claims as established fact; investigations and verifications remain ongoing or unreported.