Commentary: ‘Love Story’ is guilty of the same invasion of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s lives that it condemns

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It seems like movies and TV shows just can’t resist revisiting the Kennedy family tragedies, and this year is no exception.

FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” joins the many fictional accounts of this famously tragic couple, often seen as haunted by misfortune. The series details their very public romance, marriage, and ultimately, their shocking and premature deaths.

“Love Story” begins like a glamorous modern fairytale, portraying a sweet young woman who falls in love with the son of a critical and disapproving family. However, as their relationship struggles, the film shifts into a more serious exploration of family pressures and the downsides of intense media attention, echoing the story of Princess Diana.

This can mean deeply personal experiences being turned into a fictional story for television, and, as with Kennedy’s story, revisiting painful events like a family tragedy for public consumption yet again.

But hey, that’s entertainment.

John F. Kennedy Jr. captured the nation’s attention from birth, arriving just weeks after his father became president. As he grew into a charismatic and driven young man, he was constantly followed by the paparazzi. Unlike his sister Caroline, who valued her privacy, John embraced a public life. He became a cultural icon, even being named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1988. Living in New York City, he was often photographed biking to work, first as a prosecutor and later at George magazine, the political and pop culture publication he created. A popular figure at parties and considered one of the most desirable bachelors, he remains memorable for moments like his appearance as a romantic interest in a 1992 episode of “Seinfeld.”

John F. Kennedy Jr.’s relationship with and marriage to Carolyn Bessette, a publicist for Calvin Klein, brought intense media scrutiny. The public saw Bessette as a modern-day princess, and she, like Kennedy, was constantly followed and often harassed by the paparazzi. The tabloids frequently reported on their relationship, often with negative and unfair coverage. The nation was devastated when Kennedy, Bessette, and her sister Lauren died in a plane crash in July 1999. Kennedy was piloting the plane, and they were on their way to a family wedding in Hyannis Port when the tragedy occurred.

It’s true that the basic events happened. Everything else, including the series “Love Story” from Connor Hines and Ryan Murphy, is a work of fiction. Murphy often builds his shows around real-life tragedies, scandals, and shocking events, and the story of the Kennedys and Bessettes fits that pattern. It’s similar to his series “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans,” which also focused on the lives and dramas of wealthy New Yorkers, including Jackie Kennedy’s sister, Lee Radziwill.

Stories of famous romances ending in tragedy are common, but this film claims to offer something more. Inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s biography of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, its creators say it aims to set the record straight. They want to challenge the popular idea that Bessette was a cold and manipulative person who caused John F. Kennedy Jr.’s unhappiness and may have even contributed to the plane crash that tragically took their lives over 25 years ago.

It’s hard to say how widely this story is still believed, especially since it originally focused a lot on New York. Many people under 50 likely only remember John and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy for their looks and the sadness surrounding their deaths. However, those who truly knew and cared for Bessette might find solace in this account.

The series portrays Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon) as a driven, yet warm and independent young woman. Her natural style and talent for understanding customers quickly moved her from a typical retail job to the heart of Calvin Klein. She impressed Calvin Klein himself (Alessandro Nivola) with a clever suggestion – that Annette Bening wear a men’s suit jacket to the premiere of “Bugsy,” which Bening actually did. Klein was so impressed he introduced her to John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) at a company event, confidently telling Bessette she’d be grateful for the introduction.

Instead of being impressed, Bessette playfully challenges him and declines to give him her phone number. She tells him, “You can find me at work – just ask at the front desk.”

This scene is wonderfully acted, and Pidgeon perfectly portrays Bessette’s struggle—she recognizes a relationship with this man will likely cause problems, but his persistence and charm are too much to resist.

We have to accept what she says. While the actor was chosen because he looked like Kennedy, he couldn’t quite capture the charm and appeal of JFK Jr. Despite the actor’s best performance, it’s hard to believe that strong love is what convinced Bessette to overcome her understandable reluctance to be involved with a famous person, rather than simply falling for him.

Jacqueline (Naomi Watts) believes any woman her son chooses must be able to handle his flaws, and she understands this better than anyone. That’s why she’s rejected all of his girlfriends, particularly his constantly fluctuating relationship with Daryl Hannah (Dree Hemingway). Her dislike of Hannah is somewhat understandable, as the character comes across as spoiled, self-centered, and unaware – it’s hard to see why they even try to make it work. However, it mainly gives Jackie and Caroline (Grace Gummer) a chance to express their frustration with Kennedy and constantly tell him to get his life in order.

This portrayal of John F. Kennedy Jr. shows him as vulnerable and rebellious, feeling lost and burdened by both his famous name and his mother’s high expectations. She disapproves of his career change from law to magazine publishing, and doesn’t seem to approve of his romantic choices either.

The former first lady’s close relationship with her son unfortunately leads the story to delve into her personal life, and at times, insensitively, into her final moments. While Watts delivers a strong performance as the demanding mother, the film keeps returning to the idealized past – Camelot – and the tragic events in Dallas.

Caroline, played by Gummer, is smart, funny, and often sharply critical – she playfully points out John’s complaint about Jackie’s leniency by referencing her own extensive therapy. However, like other characters, she mainly serves to create conflict in the central love story. Because Bessette is clearly portrayed as the sympathetic protagonist, Caroline comes across as an antagonist, even with Gummer’s charming performance. She’s often unnecessarily rude and critical of her brother’s decisions.

The New York of the mid-to-late 1990s provides a backdrop to the story – think sensational tabloid news about John failing the bar exam, the Mark Wahlberg (then known as Marky Mark) controversy, the growing fame of Kate Moss, and the difficulties faced by Kennedy’s magazine, George. However, many of the outdoor scenes seem staged, often appearing empty except when crowded with photographers.

During the first few episodes, Calvin Klein and his wife, Kelly (played by Leila George), provide an interesting contrast to the Kennedys. Kelly understands what it’s like to live in the shadow of a famous husband – she and Calvin divorced in the same year John Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette got married. Designer David Nivola, who came out as bisexual in 2006, is a standout character. His portrayal of Calvin has a stronger, though platonic, connection with Bessette than John Kennedy does.

Even though everyone warns them it’s a bad idea, it’s still enjoyable to watch these two fall in love and overcome the obstacles in their path—especially with a great performance from Constance Zimmer as the mother who disapproves of the relationship.

As the show goes on, the constant media attention and speculation surrounding the couple increasingly traps Bessette and makes her miserable. The show’s momentum slows down, and it becomes unsettling to watch her fall apart.

Creating a movie or show about the downsides of fame and constant media attention is tricky – it’s easy to come across as judgmental while also contributing to the problem. In “Love Story,” the true antagonist isn’t a person, but the relentless public desire to know everything about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, even when they value their privacy.

It’s undeniable that watching “Love Story” feels like experiencing the same heartbreak all over again, even knowing how it ends.

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2026-02-13 14:02