Olivia Nuzzi withdraws protective order against Ryan Lizza in aftermath of RFK Jr. relationship

• Olivia Nuzzi has withdrawn her protective order request against her ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza.
• Nuzzi accused Lizza of blackmailing her in an October petition.
• The withdrawal is the latest turn in the dramatic aftermath of Nuzzi’s relationship with RFK Jr.

Olivia Nuzzi, the former New York magazine political correspondent who made headlines earlier this year for having a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has withdrawn her request for a protective order against her ex-fiancé, fellow journalist Ryan Lizza.

In an October petition for a civil protection order, Nuzzi accused Lizza, a Politico reporter, of hacking her devices and stealing information to blackmail her. Nuzzi alleged her former fiancé tried to convince her to get back together with him and threatened to destroy her career if she refused. Lizza denied the allegations at the time.

Politico shares a parent company with Business Insider.

An attorney for Nuzzi confirmed to Business Insider that she withdrew the protective order request.

BI didn’t immediately view the motion, as court documents related to allegations of domestic abuse can only be accessed in person in the DC courthouse.

“Ms. Nuzzi has no interest in fighting a public relations battle. For insight into her decision, you can refer to the statements in her motion,” Nuzzi’s attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, told BI.

In a statement shared with BI, Lizza said: “Olivia shamelessly used litigation with false and defamatory allegations as a public relations strategy.”

“When required to do so, she refused to defend her claims in court last month. She then sought to hide my response to her claims from the public by seeking to seal the proceedings that she began,” he wrote. “Now, on the eve of a hearing at which she knew her lies would be exposed, she has taken the only course available to her and withdrawn her fabricated claims.”

“Olivia lied to me for almost a year. She lied to her editors. She lied to her readers. She lied to her colleagues. She lied to reporters. And she lied to the judge in this case,” Lizza said. “I said I would defend myself against her lies vigorously and successfully and I am fully prepared to do so. But for now, I’m pleased this matter is closed.”

Nuzzi’s withdrawal is the latest turn in the dramatic media story, which began when journalist Oliver Darcy reported in September in his newsletter, Status, that New York Magazine put Nuzzi on leave after learning she engaged in a personal relationship with Kennedy, who she covered as a presidential candidate.

Nuzzi said the relationship wasn’t physical. A spokesperson for Kennedy previously said he only met her once.

Following a third-party investigation into Nuzzi’s work, New York magazine said the probe found no inaccuracies or evidence of bias in her reporting. She and the magazine parted ways in October.