JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette series faces multiple controversies from Kennedy family, fans
The series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, titled “American Love Story” hasn’t even aired yet and is already facing backlash.
Jack Schlossberg, JFK Jr.’s nephew, slammed the show on social media earlier this week, calling it “grotesque.”
"Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man," Schlossberg said in a video posted to his Instagram Stories Thursday, June 19, per People Magazine.
Schlossberg, the son of JFK Jr.’s sister Caroline Kennedy, explained, "For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with, the new shows being made about him, the answer is no. And there's really not much we can do.”
"The right to privacy, which includes the ability to control your own name, image and likeness, doesn't survive death in the state of New York. For that matter, he's considered a public figure, so there's not much we can do."
"I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life, all that he achieved in it. And that they donate some of the profits [that] they're making," he said.
The 32-year-old added, "For the record, I think admiration for my Uncle John is great. What I don't think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way.”
“American Love Story” is the latest series from producer Ryan Murphy, and follows the romance and tragic deaths of JFK. Jr., son of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie Jennedy, and Carolyn Bessette, a fashion publicist.
The couple met in 1992 and married four years later. In 1999, they died in a plane crash piloted by JFK Jr., who was flying his wife and his sister, over Martha’s Vineyard.
JFK Jr. is being played by newcomer Paul Kelly and Bessette is played by “The Wilds” star Sarah Pidgeon.
Early images of the actors in a costume test went viral earlier this week after fans criticized the recreation of Bessette’s famously chic style.
Ryan Murphy addressed the criticism in comments to Variety, telling the outlet, “Carolyn Bessette is clearly a religious figure and it’s a religion of her own. It’s very interesting that people become so inflammatory.”
Murphy noted that his caption of the images describes them as a “camera test,” meant to give the creators an idea of what they would look like for lighting and cameras, and aren’t meant to be the final looks for the actors.
He added that production as a 10 person “style advisory board” and has been able to purchase some clothing that actually belonged to Bessette.
The “American Horror Story” creator also said the scrutiny the pictures created was unfortunately similar to the intense spotlight on the couple.
“We’re writing a story about a person – an unknown person – who falls in love with the most famous man in the world and suddenly she can’t leave her house,” Murphy told Variety.
He added, “They’re doing to our Carolyn, what they did to the real-life Carolyn. It’s not fair.”
“American Love Story” is currently filming and will release on Valentine’s Day next year.
