Daryl Hannah doesn’t care how much audiences love “Love Story.” That’s “not true,” the former JFK Jr. lover writes in a new essay.
‘Love Story’ star Sarah Pidgeon looks soft glamorous in pink dress at Actor’s Awards ceremony
Sarah Pidgeon wears a dusty pink Balenciaga dress on the Actor’s Awards red carpet to introduce her role as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in Love Story.
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Daryl Hannah doesn’t care how much audiences love “Love Story.”
In a new op-ed published by The New York Times on Friday, March 6, Hanna slammed the show for its exaggerated depiction of the romance and death of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. The FX show, created by controversial producer Ryan Murphy, captivated viewers, but some members of the Kennedy family were outraged, claiming it was not only false, but grossly glorified a personal tragedy.
On Friday, JFK Jr.’s former girlfriend Hannah was among the critics herself, slamming her eponymous character on the show and deriding its choices as “exploiting tragedy.”
Hannah, 65, wrote of her character on the show: “The choice to portray her as frustrated, narcissistic, whining and inappropriate was no accident.” “Telling a story requires tension, and often obstacles. But real, living people are not narrative devices.”
Hannah went on to accuse the show of being misogynistic, claiming that it pits women against each other to create dramatic tension, and explicitly disavowing many of the actions her character did on screen.
“The actions and actions attributed to me are false. I have never used cocaine or hosted a cocaine-fueled party in my life. I have never forced anyone to marry me. I have never desecrated a family heirloom or violated anyone’s personal monument. “I’ve never even planted a story in the press. I’ve never compared Jacqueline Onassis’ death to that of a dog. Even having to defend myself against a TV show is terrifying to me.” “These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are claims about actions, and they are false.”
The actress and now environmental activist said her choice to speak out now has less to do with ego and more to do with a desire to continue doing the work she loves without facing a tarnished reputation. Despite decades of obsessive interest in the Kennedy family, Hanna, who dated JFK Jr. for several years, said much of what is in popular media is false.
“The Kennedy family is also known for being private, and I have always respected their right to privacy,” she wrote. “Please know that most (if not all) people who claim to have some detailed knowledge of our private lives are self-serving sensationalists peddling gossip, innuendo, and speculation.”
“Love Story” reignited interest in Kennedy and Bessette’s tabloid-hunted relationship and their untimely deaths in a 1999 plane crash. In a conversation with USA TODAY at the show’s premiere, series creator Connor Hines explained his decision not to consult the family.
“From a writing standpoint, I think distance is more effective… because I think distance allows you to be more objective when you can act on extensive research. When you talk to someone, you often feel obligated to talk to everyone and end up with conflicting stories,” he said. “I also think there’s a sense of responsibility to convey what each person has to say. And I think the story can get very confusing because everyone remembers things differently.”
Contributor: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
