Olivia Nuzzi's RFK Jr. Memoir: The 'Brain Worm' Scandal

The Unfiltered Story Behind Olivia Nuzzi's Explosive Memoir

Political journalist Olivia Nuzzi has turned her controversial relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into literary fire with her memoir American Canto. The book, which offers raw insights into their non-physical but emotionally charged affair, has ignited fresh debate about media ethics and the Kennedy legacy. Most shockingly, Nuzzi details the bizarre "brain worm" incident that became a viral talking point during RFK Jr.'s presidential campaign.

From Profile to Passion: The Relationship That Rocked Washington

The saga began in late 2023 when Nuzzi, then a star political correspondent for New York Magazine, published a profile of RFK Jr. during his independent presidential run. What followed was an intense, never-physical relationship that Nuzzi describes as "emotionally charged" and "insatiable." The affair became public knowledge in 2024, leading to her suspension from the magazine and the end of her engagement to Politico's Ryan Lizza.

The memoir provides unprecedented context for their dynamic, revealing how their connection evolved beyond professional boundaries. Nuzzi portrays RFK Jr. as a complex figure with "private ways that he was mad," someone who was "insatiable in all ways" and obsessed with desire itself.

The 'Brain Worm' Incident: When Politics Became Personal

One of the most provocative sections of American Canto addresses the infamous "brain worm" controversy that emerged during RFK Jr.'s campaign. The New York Post reports that Nuzzi recounts her visceral reaction to learning about Kennedy's past health claims:

"I loved his brain. I hated the idea of an intruder therein... 'Baby, don't worry,' he said. 'It's not a worm.'"
— Olivia Nuzzi, American Canto

The reference stems from RFK Jr.'s 2012 divorce testimony where a doctor suggested a brain scan shadow might be a dead parasite. Despite Kennedy later clarifying it wasn't actually a worm, the meme had already taken hold. Nuzzi describes how Kennedy would soothe her concerns with intimate reassurances during their sexting exchanges, revealing a deeply personal side of the politician.

Aftermath: Career Fallout and Cultural Impact

The revelations have had profound consequences for Nuzzi's career. Her suspension from New York Magazine effectively ended her tenure at the publication, though she continues as a contributor to Vanity Fair. Meanwhile, RFK Jr.'s appointment as President Trump's health secretary has given these personal anecdotes unexpected political relevance.

While critics dismissed RFK Jr. as a "madman" during his campaign, Nuzzi offers a more nuanced perspective. She admires his intellectual intensity and describes him as "the mouse and the architect of his maze," someone who navigated desire with self-mastery. This complexity forms the heart of her memoir, which she calls an exploration of "the range of his kinks and complexes and how they fit within what I thought I understood of his soul."

Why American Canto Matters Now

Published amid heightened political tensions, the memoir transcends simple scandal-mongering. Nuzzi frames Kennedy as a symbol of America's fractured psyche—someone who "would swallow up the whole world just to know it better." In an era of viral misinformation, her personal account forces readers to confront how public figures navigate private eccentricities.

As Nuzzi writes in her opening lines: "I woke the morning after Election Day on the wrong coast of the right country." This metaphor captures the disorientation of our political moment, where personal stories and national narratives collide in unexpected ways.