Another Kennedy scandal is brewing, and it’s threatening to upend Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s political aspirations and personal life with a tell-all memoir from journalist Olivia Nuzzi.
Reports have surfaced that Nuzzi, a 31-year-old Vanity Fair editor, has penned a book titled “American Canto,” set for release on December 2, 2025, which allegedly details a personal relationship with Kennedy, the controversial 71-year-old Secretary of Health and Human Services and MAHA leader, leaving him and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, reeling from the potential fallout.
The New York Post reported that the saga began last year when allegations of a sexting affair between Kennedy and Nuzzi first broke, sending shockwaves through their respective circles. Hines, 60, reportedly considered divorce at the time but ultimately stood by her husband after the couple reconciled, hoping the storm had passed.
Kennedy, for his part, has denied any intimate involvement, claiming through a spokesperson that he met Nuzzi only once during an interview tied to his presidential campaign efforts.
Sources close to Hines say she fully accepted his denial, believing it without question, which makes the news of Nuzzi’s memoir all the more jarring for the couple.
“Bobby and Cheryl initially went through marital hell last year when the affair was first revealed,” an insider told The Post. “She even considered divorce for a time, but they’ve since reconciled and had been relieved that the scandal had seemingly blown over.”
Apparently, that relief was premature, as this insider’s words underline just how unprepared they were for Nuzzi’s literary bombshell—talk about a plot twist that could rival any Hollywood script Hines has ever starred in.
Nuzzi herself has maintained that whatever connection she had with Kennedy was personal but never crossed into physical territory, a claim that offers little comfort to those in Kennedy’s camp.
Adding fuel to the fire, Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé, former Politico journalist Ryan Lizza, has made startling claims in court filings, alleging Kennedy sought to “possess” and “control” Nuzzi, even using his influence to manipulate her.
Lizza also reportedly stated that Nuzzi privately called Kennedy a “sex addict” and described their dynamic as “toxic” and “unhealthy”—accusations that, if detailed in the memoir, could paint a damning picture for a man already under public scrutiny.
While Nuzzi has since moved on professionally, parting ways with New York Magazine and joining Vanity Fair, the specter of her book looms large over Kennedy’s role in the Trump administration, with some speculating it could jeopardize his cabinet position if the revelations prove too explosive.
Hines, meanwhile, is preparing to release her own memoir, “Unscripted,” on November 11, 2025, which could either counter or collide with Nuzzi’s narrative in the court of public opinion.
“Not to diminish Bobby and Cheryl’s negative reaction and fear about Olivia’s upcoming tell-all, but it really comes down to the old story—‘He said, she said,’” a publishing source familiar with Nuzzi’s project told The Post.
“But one thing’s for certain, with the two women writing about their relationship with one man—a Kennedy with a long history of womanizing—it’s definitely going to generate public interest.”
Indeed, this source hits the nail on the head: in an era where personal scandals often overshadow policy, this clash of memoirs could become a cultural lightning rod, especially for a figure like Kennedy, whose family name already carries decades of baggage—fair or not, the public will be watching, popcorn in hand, as this drama unfolds.