- Ruby Rippey writes about her struggles with alcoholism and her relationship with Gavin Newsom while working as his appointments secretary in a new essay.
- Gavin Newsom publicly admitted to the affair in 2007, stating, 'Everything you’ve heard and read is true.'
- Rippey complicates Newsom's account of their relationship, which he described as the briefest of affairs in his memoir.
- Rippey criticizes Newsom’s description of the affair and its fallout, stating it was a fracture that split her life into before and after.
- Rippey describes the early days of the newly elected mayor’s administration, her marriage, pregnancy, struggles with alcohol, and her ensuing relationship with Newsom as it veered into an extramarital affair.
- Rippey was inundated with calls from journalists and was the subject of frenzied media coverage about the affair after it became public.
- Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the first partner of California, remarked that Rippey was the 'culprit' in the affair, a statement she later apologized for.
- Kamala Harris, then the district attorney, contacted Rippey in the aftermath of the incident, advising her to pause before speaking publicly.
- Rippey observed a new narrative about their relationship emerge during the MeToo movement, where she felt cast as a 'powerless subordinate.'
Ruby Rippey has penned a revealing essay that delves into her affair with Gavin Newsom, complicating his narrative of their relationship as merely a brief encounter. In her piece, published in Vanity Fair, Rippey reflects on the profound impact the affair had on her life.1234569
Rippey, who served as Newsom's appointments secretary while married to his deputy chief of staff, critiques his memoir's portrayal of their relationship, which he describes as the “briefest of affairs.” She argues that his account minimizes her experience, stating, “For my former boss, it is a footnote in a longer arc of ascent. For me, it is the fracture that split my life into before and after.”
The affair, which became public in 2007, led to intense media scrutiny of Rippey. She recalls receiving numerous calls from journalists and the subsequent fallout that ensued. “After the story became public, Rippey was inundated with calls from journalists and was the subject of frenzied media coverage about the affair,” the essay notes.
Rippey also reflects on her struggles with alcoholism and substance abuse during this tumultuous period. She recounts a conversation with Kamala Harris, who advised her to take time before speaking publicly about the incident, suggesting that “more time will give you better perspective.” This advice resonates with Rippey as she navigates her complex feelings about the affair and its implications.8
Ultimately, Rippey’s essay sheds light on the dynamics of power and vulnerability, challenging the narrative that often casts women in subordinate roles. “Although she was Newsom’s ‘subordinate,’ she was also ‘a free-thinking, 33-year-old, adult married woman and mother,’” she asserts, emphasizing her agency in the situation.
“In her essay, Rippey discusses the profound impact of the affair on her life, stating, 'For my former boss, it is a footnote in a longer arc of ascent. For me, it is the fracture that split my life into before and after.' She also recalls advice from Kamala Harris to take time for better perspective on the situation.”
The Guardian
