A new wave of drama hit political media circles this week after a viral article resurfaced old allegations about journalist Olivia Nazzi and her past relationships. The piece, written by reporter Ryan Lizza, described what he claimed was an unusual and secretive period in Nazzi’s life — including an alleged “sugar daddy” dynamic with former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann.
According to Lizza’s account, Nazzi was in her early 20s when she suddenly left her New Jersey home and began living with Olbermann in Manhattan. He alleged that Olbermann, who is decades older, supported her financially by covering her college expenses, buying expensive designer outfits, and even gifting her high-end jewelry reportedly worth around $15,000. Lizza also claimed Olbermann paid for Nazzi’s New York apartment and helped furnish it.
But Lizza suggested that the relationship came with “strings attached,” describing how he eventually helped Nazzi leave what he called an uncomfortable situation. He also claimed Nazzi later felt “stalked” after the breakup.
When the article began spreading online, Keith Olbermann addressed it — but interestingly, he didn’t respond to any of the allegations about money, gifts, or the relationship with Olivia Nazzi. Instead, he turned his attention to another part of the story: Lizza’s accusation that Nazzi had an affair with former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford while covering him during the 2020 election. Olbermann reacted on social media with disbelief, adding a facepalm emoji and questioning the ethical implications of the alleged affair.
For now, neither Olivia Nazzi nor Mark Sanford has publicly commented on the renewed attention, leaving the internet to piece together the story as more details continue to circulate.
FAQs — Keith Olbermann’s Personal Life
Q: Is Keith Olbermann married?
A: No — as of now, Keith Olbermann has never been married.
Q: Who has Keith Olbermann dated?
A: He’s had a few high-profile relationships:
Katy Tur (2006–2009)
Olivia Nuzzi (they lived together for several years)
He has also been linked with former Senator Kyrsten Sinema and TV personality Laura Ingraham.
Q: Does Keith Olbermann have any children?
A: According to publicly available sources, he does not have any children.
Q: What are some health issues or conditions that Olbermann has spoken about?
A:He has a mild form of celiac disease.
He also experiences restless legs syndrome.
In 1980, he suffered a head injury (from jumping onto a subway train), which, according to him, “upset his equilibrium” and affects his ability to drive.
Q: What about his family background?
A:He was born on January 27, 1959, in New York City.
His father was Theodore Olbermann, who passed away in 2010.
He had a mother (Marie Katherine) who also passed away several months before his father.
He has a younger sister named Jenna.
Q: Does he have any notable personal passions or interests outside of his career?
A: Yes — he’s a big baseball fan and historian. He’s also involved in animal rescue, especially with dogs (he’s talked about rescuing them and helping them find homes).