Ryan Murphy and the JFK Jr.-Carolyn Bessette controversy, explained: Why ‘American Love Story' Instagram post got so much hate
All is not well in Camelot... again.
Ryan Murphy's latest prestige series is barely a week into production, but it's already stirring up controversy. Set for an early 2026 launch on FX, American Love Story chronicles the tragic romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who died in a 1999 plane crash, three years after their storybook wedding. Here's what you need to know about the unfolding real-life drama surrounding the show.
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As with so many social media-era tempests, this all started with an Instagram post. On June 13, the official Ryan Murphy Productions account shared first-look camera test images of American Love Story stars Paul Kelly as JFK Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon as Bessette-Kennedy. "We started shooting in New York this week," the post revealed, adding that over 1,000 actors had auditioned for both roles.
Besides Kelly and Pidgeon, the American Love Story cast includes Murphy regular Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kenndy, Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette and Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein.
Mixed in among the congratulatory Insta comments — including a "proud mama" note from Kelly's mom — were the first hints of drama. Armchair critics were notably displeased with Pidgeon's wardrobe and hair, which they argued didn't accurately capture Bessette-Kennedy's trendsetting glamor.
Experts weighed in days later, with The Cut publishing a fashion-forward critique that dismissed Pidgeon's various lewks as "modern-day replicas of their '90s counterparts." Meanwhile, Bessette-Kennedy's actual hair colorist, Brad Johns, gave an exclusive interview to Vogue where he called the actress's platinum blond hair "totally wrong."
"No one would believe that Carolyn in the '90s would ever have that color from me," he added. "It's too 2024."
But not all of the criticisms of American Love Story have been fashion-related. Earlier this week, writer Jack Schlossberg — son of Caroline Kennedy and nephew of JFK Jr. — posted his own Instagram reaction to the series, emphasizing that Murphy and his creative team doesn't have the Kennedy family's involvement or blessing.
"There's not really much we can do," he noted. "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, [John]'s considered a public figure."
In lieu of stopping the production, Schlossberg called for the production to find a way to give back to the memories of the couple. "I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life," he remarked. "And that they donate some of the profits [that] they're making."
In a June 19 interview with Variety, Murphy addressed the advanced American Love Story criticism head-on. "Carolyn Bessette is clearly a religious figure and it's a religion of her own," he noted about the intense reaction to Pidgeon's hair and clothing. "It's very interesting that people become so inflammatory."
The prolific creator and producer also revealed that neither actor was modeling outfits for the camera test that will be seen in the series itself. As for Pidgeon's platinum locks, Murphy said that the actress was wearing a wig in the Instagram images — and claims that Vogue didn't reach out to factcheck the reason for that shade of blonde.
"Why didn't Vogue call us and ask, 'Let's talk about your decisions. What are your reference photos?'" he remarked.
Murphy vowed that the series will pay careful attention to era-specific fashions, employing a "style advisory board" to offer best practices. Additionally, some of the clothing seen on the show will have belonged to Bessette-Kennedy; the production purchased those pieces for Pidgeon to wear on-camera.
"They're doing to our Carolyn, what they did to the real-life Carolyn," Murphy said, comparing Pidgeon's critics to those who criticized Bessette after her romance with JFK Jr. went public. "It's not fair."
Murphy had a more diplomatic response to Schlossberg's remarks, confirming that he intends to donate some of his American Love Story profits to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
"I think it would be really hard if your relatives are always in the media," he acknowledged.
Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection
American Love Story shoot sightings are happening all over New York City as production continues through the summer and into the fall. FX plans a Valentine's Day launch next year, with its usual FX on Hulu streaming option.
More Murphy productions are headed to the small screen before then. Disney's TV upfront presentation in May shared footage from All's Fair, coming this fall to Hulu and starring Sarah Paulson, Kim Kardashian and Watts. 911: Nashville — the latest expansion of Murphy's 911 franchise — is also premiering this fall on ABC. And he'll soon begin production on The Beauty, a Nip/Tuck-esque series for FX featuring Ashton Kutcher, Evan Peters and Anthony Ramos.
Don't expect any camera test Instagram images from those shows, though.
"If I ever do something like that again, I have to put a warning label on the top of the caption, explaining to people what the process is," Murphy told Variety about his major takeaway from the American Love Story dust-up.
'I was trying to protect our actors from being absolutely swarmed by the paparazzi," he added. "But that's on me. I made a mistake, and I've learned from it."
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