Latest news with #CarolineKennedy
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
JFK Jr.'s nephew blasts Ryan Murphy for not consulting with family for 'grotesque' series American Love Story
The nephew of the late John F. Kennedy Jr. is striking out at one of the creators of the upcoming biopic series American Love Story. Jack Schlossberg, the son of JFK Jr.'s sister Caroline Kennedy, said in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday that the Kennedy family had not been consulted about the 'grotesque' series, which was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. has contacted Murphy's representative for comment, but hasn't yet received a response. Murphy, 59, previously got into a spat with Schlossberg over the series just last week, and the controversy comes after he was previously slammed for 'profiting off the grief' of the families of victims of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in 2022. In a video shared while he was on a road trip across the United States, Schlossberg clarified his family's involvement in the new series, which depicts the courtship and subsequent marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. 'Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man,' Schlossberg said in the clip. '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.' He explained that there wasn't a legal avenue for his family to exert influence over the production. '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,' Schlossberg clarified. '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 continued. '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,' he added on a harsher note. This isn't the first time Schlossberg has called for Murphy to donate his profits from the series. Last week, Murphy shared photos of the actors in costume to play JFK Jr. and Bessette, which several fans criticized for failing to capture their sense of style and taste. But Schlossberg jumped into the comments to call out Murphy. 'HEY RYAN — admiration for John is great but maybe consider DONATING PROFITS TO THE KENNEDY LIBRARY thanks,' he wrote. '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 continued Murphy responded, simply writing, '@jackuno I absolutely will.' The spat was reminiscent of criticism Murphy received in recent years for his Netflix series Dahmer, which traced the life and crimes of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer murdered 17 young men over the course of 13 years, in addition to sexually assaulting others. He was bludgeoned to death in prison by a fellow inmate in 1994 at age 34 while serving 16 life sentences. Rita Isbell, the sister of Errol Lindsey — who was only 19 when he was brutally murdered by Dahmer — claimed in 2022 that she had not been contacted about the series. She accused Netflix, which streamed the series, of being 'greedy for not contributing money to her late brother's children. But Murphy later insisted that he tried to contact many of the victims' families in the three-and-a-half years that the show was being made, though he didn't specify if Isbell was one of the people he reached out to. 'We [did] research for a very long time,' he said while discussing the show at an event. 'We, over the course of the three-and-a-half years when we were writing it, working on it, we reached out to around 20 of the victims' families and friends trying to get input, trying to talk to people, and not a single person responded to us in that process. 'So we relied very, very heavily on our incredible group of researchers who… I don't even know how they found a lot of this stuff,' he continued. 'But it was just like a night and day effort to us trying to uncover the truth of these people.' In a later chat with the New York Times in November 2022, Murphy again defended himself and also fought back against viewers who criticized the series for being marketed as an LGBTQ series. 'What are the rules now?' Murphy asked. 'Should we never do a movie about a tyrant? 'There was a moment on Netflix where they removed the LGBTQ tag from Dahmer and I didn't like it,' Murphy said. 'I asked why they did that and they said because people were upset because it was an upsetting story. 'I was, like, "Well, yeah." But it was a story of a gay man and more importantly, his gay victims.' Last week, Murphy shared images of actors Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon dressed as JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette for American Love Story. The two stars posed inside a spacious studio as they did a camera test as production officially kicked off this week. 'FIRST LOOK! Here are some stills from our LOVE STORY camera test,' the TV writer wrote in the caption of the post. 'We started shooting this week in New York City and can't wait until you see the romantic and tragic love story between America's prince, JFK Jr., and fashion icon Carolyn Bessette - out Valentine's Day week of 2026.' He added, 'I am thrilled to introduce you to Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn and Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. Over a thousand actors auditioned for each of these roles, and we absolutely found the perfect choices. Congratulations Sarah and Paul!' Sarah - who is known for the Amazon Prime Video series The Wilds - could be seen wearing a black turtleneck as well as black trousers and a tan coat. She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black pumps and allowed her platinum blonde locks to flow down straight past her shoulders. Bessette had been a fashion publicist for Calvin Klein and was also known for her classic and minimalistic style. Paul wore a double-breasted, gray suit which was paired with a white dress shirt and red-patterned tie. In one image, he sported a pair of shades and also stopped for a photo outdoors while donning a different suit. He added, 'I am thrilled to introduce you to Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn and Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. Over a thousand actors auditioned for each of these roles, and we absolutely found the perfect choices. Congratulations Sarah and Paul!' Kelly further channeled the late JFK Jr. in a pair of jeans, green shirt and black vest - similar to a past look worn by the attorney. The two stars also cozied up together for the camera - which was shown in a video in a separate post on Friday. Other celebrities that have been cast in the upcoming project include Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein, Leila George as Kelly Klein, Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette and Noah Fearnley as Michael Bergin. Social media users shared their thoughts on the first look into the new series - with one penning, 'Amazing casting. I knew immediately it was him.' Another typed, 'Wow, I knew who they were before even reading the caption,' and a fan added, 'Beautiful casting. Well done. Cannot wait to see how it comes together.' 'Man, Jr's casting is DEAD ON,' an Instagram user shared, while celebrities also offered their own feelings. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs commented, 'Can't wait,' while Office alum Mindy Kaling wrote, 'Wow.' While Murphy replied to Schlossberg, the producer also responded to another fan who had questioned about the 13th season of American Horror Story. 'Ryan are we getting AHS13 this year? Or not in 2025?' they asked, and Ryan answered, 'Sarah Paulson and I are cooking up something cool!' The premise of the upcoming series will show, 'what started out as a beautiful union for the young couple, widely regarded as American royalty, [begin] to fray under the stress of the relentless microscope and navel gaze of tabloid media,' per Deadline. 'The pressures of their careers and rumored family discord ended with their tragic deaths when his private plane crashed into the ocean on a hazy summer night off the coast of Massachusetts.' Carolyn and John Jr. - who was the son of late 35th President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy - first crossed paths in 1992, when he was in a relationship with actress Daryl Hannah. Two years later, Bessette and Kennedy began dating and their romance was heavily publicized. The pair were often pictured out in NYC together or attending events. In 1995, Carolyn and John became engaged and secretly tied the knot in a romantic ceremony the following year in September 1996. The nuptials were held at a small chapel by candlelight at the Georgia Island of Cumberland - with close friends and family in attendance. A young Jack Schlossberg had notably been the ring bearer during the wedding. Bessette had worn a silk gown as she said 'I do' from designer Narciso Rodriguez. After the nuptials, media attentions towards the couple continued to grow. On July 16, 1999 - Carolyn, John Jr. and her sister Lauren - passed away after their plane crashed off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. It was later ruled that the cause of the tragic incident was due to Kennedy losing control and all three of the bodies were recovered from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean five days after the crash. Prior to her relationship with Kennedy, Carolyn had dated Calvin Klein model Michael Bergin. Executive producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson told Variety last year that Bessette and Kennedy's story 'really resonates right now. It's amazing. 'A lot of younger women are looking to [Carolyn] as sort of a representational icon of a certain period of time that's really fascinating, and hopefully, we'll be able to bring that to the screen.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John F. Kennedy Jr.'s nephew slams 'grotesque' Ryan Murphy biopic
Jack Schlossberg has slammed Ryan Murphy's upcoming show about his late family members, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Filming is underway on the FX series American Love Story, with Paul Kelly playing JFK Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon portraying his wife, Carolyn. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Jack - the son of JFK Jr.'s sister Caroline Kennedy - called out Ryan and the other producers for not consulting with the Kennedy family. "Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man," he began. "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," the 32-year-old continued. "For that matter, he's considered a public figure, so there's not much we can do." Elsewhere, Jack asked Ryan to consider making a donation to some of the charities his late uncle supported. "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," the writer 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." Representatives for Ryan and FX have not yet responded to the comments. American Love Story is set to premiere in February 2026. The first instalment is expected to focus on JFK Jr. and Carolyn's whirlwind courtship and marriage in 1996. JFK Jr., the son of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, fashion publicist Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, died in a plane crash in 1999.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Misty Copeland broke barriers in ballet. Now she's retiring and moving to ‘the next stage'
Ten years ago this month, Misty Copeland sat in front of a hastily arranged news conference at American Ballet Theatre, fighting back tears of pride over her new role: principal dancer. 'This is it,' she said, with emotion. 'This has been my dream since I was 13.' The occasion was highly unusual — normally, when a dancer is promoted, a brief press release is issued. But this was Copeland, a crossover star with fame far beyond the insular world of ballet. And now she was becoming the first Black female principal in the company's 75-year history — just days after her New York debut as the lead in 'Swan Lake' brought a refreshingly diverse, packed audience to the Metropolitan Opera House. Now, a decade and many accomplishments later, Copeland is retiring from the company she joined as a teenager. 'It's been 25 years at ABT, and I think it's time,' Copeland, 42, told the Associated Press last week ahead of Monday's official announcement of her move. 'It's time for me to move to the next stage.' The company is planning a splashy farewell on Oct. 22, featuring performances by Copeland — for the first time in five years — and other dancers. There will be speeches and film clips. And Copeland, who's been heavily involved in the planning, will get a chance to venture one more time onto that balcony in Verona; she'll dance again in the beautiful 'Romeo and Juliet' pas de deux. Honorary chairs for the evening will be Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey. A lot has happened in a quarter-century. Copeland, whose success brought new energy to an art form that has always been overwhelmingly white, has authored a number of books, including a memoir and and several works for young people. The second installment of 'Bunheads' arrives in September, and more are already planned in a series she calls 'a reflection of my journey, showing the range of cultures and types of people that can be a part of the ballet world.' Copeland has also made a short film with her production company. And her philanthropic organization, The Misty Copeland Foundation, works on increasing diversity in the dance world and giving more kids who grew up economically disadvantaged, like she did, the chance to dance. 'It was so important for children growing up and seeing somebody like Misty and saying, 'Oh my gosh, she looks like I do,'' says Susan Jaffe, ABT's artistic director, who is overseeing the farewell performance. 'Through her books, through her lectures, even her endorsements, she has really been a trailblazer." Still, progress moves slowly. When Copeland exits ABT, there will no longer be a Black female principal dancer at the company — nor at many ballet companies around the globe. Copeland discussed that continued challenge in the dance world, among other topics, in the AP interview last week. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: What does this moment mean? Is ballet a chapter that's now ending for you? COPELAND: You know, I've become the person that I am today, and have all the opportunities I have today, because of ballet, (and) because of American Ballet Theatre. I feel like this is me saying thank you to the company. So it's a farewell. (But) it won't be the end of me dancing. … Never say never. AP: You've told your story over the years, in multiple ways, of how you rose from difficult circumstances to this unique position in dance. What impact have you seen? COPELAND: I've noticed that the conversation is not something we shy away from anymore in terms of the lack of equity, the lack of diversity in this (dance) world. That's one of the biggest shifts I've seen … a lot of young people that just can imagine being part of it in some way. They can imagine stepping into Lincoln Center and being at the Metropolitan Opera House. AP: You became the first Black female principal at ABT in 2015. But there haven't been any more named since then. Does it concern you that progress has maybe been slow in that area? COPELAND: It's definitely concerning, and I think I've just gotten to a place in my career where there's only so much I can do on a stage. There's only so much that visual representation like that can do. I feel like it's the perfect timing for me to be stepping into a new role, and hopefully still shaping and shifting the ballet world and culture. AP: Who are some of the partners you've most enjoyed working with? COPELAND: I think about my partnership with (former ABT principal) Roberto Bolle and him giving me so many opportunities to travel the world with him … (Former ABT principal) Marcelo Gomes, he's been such a such a big part of my journey, and of course Herman Cornejo. We've had a beautiful partnership throughout my career and I'm excited to dance with him again (at the October farewell,) AP: Three years ago you became a parent (to son Jackson). How has that changed your perspective? COPELAND: It's made me even more patient. I just have a lighter and brighter outlook on life because it's just such an incredible thing to experience and witness... I think ballet has prepared me for being a mother in so many ways. I think it's ... prepared me for life and being resilient and patient and sensitive and empathetic and strong, and all of these things. AP: Does your son know who you are? COPELAND: He doesn't understand at all! (laughs) He's seen very little of me dancing. … But he's very drawn to it. He is a mover. He's very athletic. He is so drawn to music. He started violin on Monday. We live in the museums. He really is drawn to art. I think he's definitely on the artist's track. AP: So you've got the foundation, you've got the writing career, the production company. Which of those areas do you think you'll be focusing most on? COPELAND: It's been pretty evenly split between all of then. I think it just depends on what's at the forefront and what needs my focus. ... But it's exciting to be able to utilize dance in so many different mediums, and to me, that's how you get true diversity — by giving people different entry points into learning about dance and feeling like they can be a part of it, which has been my goal. How do I bring dance to as many people as possible in a way that really works for them? AP: You've always not only spoken about, but acted on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, and initiatives that promote that. Are you concerned that this is getting more difficult? COPELAND: It's a difficult time. And I think all we can really do is keep our heads down and keep doing the work. … we're fortunate in that way that we've built great relationships and can continue to do the work right now through my foundation. There's no way to stop the people that feel passionate about this work. We will continue doing it. It is so necessary for the well-being of our societies and communities. I think there are times to speak out and yell from the rooftops. And for me, I feel like this is a time to keep my head down and really stay focused and do the work.
Associated Press
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Misty Copeland broke barriers in ballet. Now she's retiring and moving to ‘the next stage'
NEW YORK (AP) — Ten years ago this month, Misty Copeland sat in front of a hastily arranged news conference at American Ballet Theatre, fighting back tears of pride over her new role: principal dancer. 'This is it,' she said, with emotion. 'This has been my dream since I was 13.' The occasion was highly unusual — normally, when a dancer is promoted, a brief press release is issued. But this was Copeland, a crossover star with fame far beyond the insular world of ballet. And now she was becoming the first Black female principal in the company's 75-year history — just days after her New York debut as the lead in 'Swan Lake' brought a refreshingly diverse, packed audience to the Metropolitan Opera House. Now, a decade and many accomplishments later, Copeland is retiring from the company she joined as a teenager. 'It's been 25 years at ABT, and I think it's time,' Copeland, 42, told the Associated Press last week ahead of Monday's official announcement of her move. 'It's time for me to move to the next stage.' The company is planning a splashy farewell on Oct. 22, featuring performances by Copeland — for the first time in five years — and other dancers. There will be speeches and film clips. And Copeland, who's been heavily involved in the planning, will get a chance to venture one more time onto that balcony in Verona; she'll dance again in the beautiful 'Romeo and Juliet' pas de deux. Honorary chairs for the evening will be Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey. A lot has happened in a quarter-century. Copeland, whose success brought new energy to an art form that has always been overwhelmingly white, has authored a number of books, including a memoir and and several works for young people. The second installment of 'Bunheads' arrives in September, and more are already planned in a series she calls 'a reflection of my journey, showing the range of cultures and types of people that can be a part of the ballet world.' Copeland has also made a short film with her production company. And her philanthropic organization, The Misty Copeland Foundation, works on increasing diversity in the dance world and giving more kids who grew up economically disadvantaged, like she did, the chance to dance. 'It was so important for children growing up and seeing somebody like Misty and saying, 'Oh my gosh, she looks like I do,'' says Susan Jaffe, ABT's artistic director, who is overseeing the farewell performance. 'Through her books, through her lectures, even her endorsements, she has really been a trailblazer.' Still, progress moves slowly. When Copeland exits ABT, there will no longer be a Black female principal dancer at the company — nor at many ballet companies around the globe. Copeland discussed that continued challenge in the dance world, among other topics, in the AP interview last week. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: What does this moment mean? Is ballet a chapter that's now ending for you? COPELAND: You know, I've become the person that I am today, and have all the opportunities I have today, because of ballet, (and) because of American Ballet Theatre. I feel like this is me saying thank you to the company. So it's a farewell. (But) it won't be the end of me dancing. … Never say never. AP: You've told your story over the years, in multiple ways, of how you rose from difficult circumstances to this unique position in dance. What impact have you seen? COPELAND: I've noticed that the conversation is not something we shy away from anymore in terms of the lack of equity, the lack of diversity in this (dance) world. That's one of the biggest shifts I've seen … a lot of young people that just can imagine being part of it in some way. They can imagine stepping into Lincoln Center and being at the Metropolitan Opera House. AP: You became the first Black female principal at ABT in 2015. But there haven't been any more named since then. Does it concern you that progress has maybe been slow in that area? COPELAND: It's definitely concerning, and I think I've just gotten to a place in my career where there's only so much I can do on a stage. There's only so much that visual representation like that can do. I feel like it's the perfect timing for me to be stepping into a new role, and hopefully still shaping and shifting the ballet world and culture. AP: Who are some of the partners you've most enjoyed working with? COPELAND: I think about my partnership with (former ABT principal) Roberto Bolle and him giving me so many opportunities to travel the world with him … (Former ABT principal) Marcelo Gomes, he's been such a such a big part of my journey, and of course Herman Cornejo. We've had a beautiful partnership throughout my career and I'm excited to dance with him again (at the October farewell,) AP: Three years ago you became a parent (to son Jackson). How has that changed your perspective? COPELAND: It's made me even more patient. I just have a lighter and brighter outlook on life because it's just such an incredible thing to experience and witness... I think ballet has prepared me for being a mother in so many ways. I think it's ... prepared me for life and being resilient and patient and sensitive and empathetic and strong, and all of these things. AP: Does your son know who you are? COPELAND: He doesn't understand at all! (laughs) He's seen very little of me dancing. … But he's very drawn to it. He is a mover. He's very athletic. He is so drawn to music. He started violin on Monday. We live in the museums. He really is drawn to art. I think he's definitely on the artist's track. AP: So you've got the foundation, you've got the writing career, the production company. Which of those areas do you think you'll be focusing most on? COPELAND: It's been pretty evenly split between all of then. I think it just depends on what's at the forefront and what needs my focus. ... But it's exciting to be able to utilize dance in so many different mediums, and to me, that's how you get true diversity — by giving people different entry points into learning about dance and feeling like they can be a part of it, which has been my goal. How do I bring dance to as many people as possible in a way that really works for them? AP: You've always not only spoken about, but acted on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, and initiatives that promote that. Are you concerned that this is getting more difficult? COPELAND: It's a difficult time. And I think all we can really do is keep our heads down and keep doing the work. … we're fortunate in that way that we've built great relationships and can continue to do the work right now through my foundation. There's no way to stop the people that feel passionate about this work. We will continue doing it. It is so necessary for the well-being of our societies and communities. I think there are times to speak out and yell from the rooftops. And for me, I feel like this is a time to keep my head down and really stay focused and do the work.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'I did my duty': Mike Pence gets courage award for certifying election on Jan. 6, 2021
Former Vice President Mike Pence has received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for "putting his life and career on the line" for certifying the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021. Pence defied President Donald Trump and dozens of Republican lawmakers by refusing to halt the congressional certification process of the 2020 election results on Jan. 6. A mob of Trump supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the transfer of power to then President-elect Joe Biden, with some explicitly calling for violence against Pence. "I will always believe, by God's grace, I did my duty that day, to support the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the Untied States of America," Pence said upon accepting the award on Sunday, May 4. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the former President John F. Kennedy, and her son Jack Schlossberg, presented the award to Pence at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. They said in a statement that Pence's decision 'is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award has been given out annually since 1989 by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, to "public servants for making a courageous decision of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences." Past winners include former U.S. Sen. John McCain, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Barack Obama. More: What former VP Mike Pence said as he received the JFK Profile in Courage Award "January 6 was a tragic day," Pence said "But it became a triumph of freedom, and history will record that our institutions held when, after law enforcement secured the Capitol, leaders in both chambers in both political parties reconvened the very same day and finished democracy's work under the Constitution." Pence, a former governor of Indiana, unsuccessfully ran against Trump in 2023 for the Republican party presidential nomination and has publicly split from his former running mate over Jan. 6. Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, and Brittany Carloni, IndyStar Kathryn Palmer is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Pence gets JFK courage award for Jan. 6: 'I did my duty'
