Latest news with #JohnFKennedyJr
Yahoo
12 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.
CNN
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Look of the Week: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and the heightened stakes of costume design
The 'wrong' shade of blonde; a deflated, empty Birkin bag; and a camel coat so stiff it looks 'like a brick,' according to one Substack writer. These are the main complaints of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy fans, who this week jumped to the defense of the late fashion publicist, whose memorable style many considered was being inaccurately portrayed in Ryan Murphy's latest biopic. On Saturday, Murphy, the TV producer and creator of 'Glee,' and 'Pose,' shared a first look at the upcoming drama, 'American Love Story,' which chronicles the tumultuous relationship and untimely demise of Bessette-Kennedy and her husband John F. Kennedy Jr. (played by Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Kelly). A 'fashion travesty' is what one user commented underneath the Instagram post teasing the images, noting that 'Carolyn would never put these looks together. The fabrics are shoddy. Drape all wrong.' Indeed, in Murphy's lighting test shots, the trusty, well-worn black Hermès Birkin bag that Bessette-Kennedy was often photographed carrying looked box-fresh, rigid and flat. Her camel coat appeared waxy and poorly tailored — something, commenters pointed out, went against everything the fashion titan stood for. Others also pointed out that Pidgeon's hair was incorrectly colored, washing her out and making her look ashy. Even Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's original hair colorist, Brad Johns, joined the conversation. 'No one would believe that Carolyn in the '90s would ever have that color from me. It's too 2024,' he told Vogue. 'When she sees that color, she's going to be swirling in heaven.' At first glance, the internet's visceral reaction to a piece of streaming entertainment may appear outsized. But it also reveals a new, intense standard which biopic costume designers are expected to adhere to, and the depths of public emotions that remain for Bessette-Kennedy even 25 years after her death. Related video How Colin Firth's wet shirt in BBC's 'Pride and Prejudice' sparked Austen-mania Bessette-Kennedy's journey from the Calvin Klein public relations department to becoming in-laws with then-US first lady Jackie Kennedy has captivated public interest for years. But her legacy extends far beyond the Kennedy surname, thanks to her strong visual identity and knack for sleek, casual dressing. In 2017, Gabriela Hearst told Vanity Fair that Bessette-Kennedy had an 'inner elegance' and was 'not of this earth, in a way.' Sotheby's, which auctioned off a series of Bessette-Kennedy's personal pieces (which included clothing from Yohji Yamamoto and Prada) for a total of $177,600 in 2024, called her 'the closest thing America ever had to their own Princess Diana.' As reverence for Bessette-Kennedy endures, it is perhaps unsurprising that any on-screen portrayal of the style icon would be subject to extreme scrutiny. Only two actors have dared take on the role before: Portia de Rossi in 2003 for the TV movie 'America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story,' and Erica Cox, who in 2017 briefly appeared in the four-episode mini-series 'The Kennedys: After Camelot.' Today, the stakes for Murphy's project — perhaps the most mainstream example, set to premiere on Hulu in 2026 — seem higher, as interest in Bessette-Kennedy has not only maintained since 1999, but mounted further. From recent books dedicated to her enviable dress sense and the details of her marriage to JFK Jr. to the Instagram accounts with thousands of followers dissecting her aesthetic, Murphy's new film has the potential to capitalize on a new wave of CBK adoration. However, the downside of more fans means more opinions. In the age of biopics — more than 20 were released in 2023 alone, and another 10 in the works currently — a passing likeness to the public figure in question will not suffice. In 2018, Gary Oldman spent more than 200 hours in the hair and makeup chair, weathering heavy prosthetics that added over half his body weight to accurately portray Winston Churchill. Part of Lily James's transformation when starring in the controversial 'Pam and Tommy' 2022 Hulu series was a fake forehead and custom-made dentures. In the fashion department, costumes are expected to be original items. Marisa Abela wore a cardigan and Pink Ladies varsity jacket that belonged to Amy Winehouse for the 2024 film on the late singer-songwriter. And when struggling to access Bob Dylan's personal wardrobe for 'A Complete Unknown' (a fictionalized account of the musician's life), the film's costume designer Arianne Phillips partnered with denim specialist Levi's to recreate an exact bespoke pair of the same Super Slims silhouette that Dylan wore. This high standard of character embodiment has given audiences a discerning eye, where even the slightest perceived inaccuracies are considered irredeemable. In the case of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, it feels particularly egregious because 'the wardrobe is a main character in this story,' as one disgruntled stylist wrote under Murphy's post. 'This breaks my heart.' Perhaps the pain also runs deep because fashion enthusiasts understand the importance of clothes as a medium to express one's identity to the wider world — and the strife of making sure you feel like yourself every day. Not only did Bessette-Kennedy seem to have mastered that difficult task; she also embodied the minimalist style of the decade while simultaneously being ahead of her time. Little wonder she has remained a mood board fixture for designers and editors alike. To sully that legacy seems like sartorial sacrilege.
Vogue
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Carolyn Besette Kennedy's Colorist on Those Ryan Murphy Images
When Ryan Murphy Productions dropped the first teaser images for the upcoming American Love Story, the world… well, had opinions. The new spin-off anthology series tells the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's romance, and for many, the images left a lot to be desired. Specifically, actor Sarah Pidgeon's transformation into Carolyn, which included almost Gwen Stefani-level blonde hair. And while the Internet immediately critiqued Pidgeon's hair transformation, I wanted to go straight to the source to see how right or wrong it really was: hair colorist Brad Johns, who was known for creating Carolyn's still-talked-about blonde in the 1990s. Johns was the colorist of the era. His clients included everyone from Kate Moss and artist Cindy Sherman, to New York City socialites and fashion insiders, including, of course, Bessette. In a 1996 Vogue September issue feature, then beauty editor Amy Astley called Johns 'Golden Boy, the Founding Father of Chunking… the Color Czar.' The next year, Johns opened his eponymous salon on Fifth Avenue with eight perpetually-filled chairs. In a three-page spread from Allure's September 1998 issue, writer Martha Barnette described his signature 'chunking' technique, which became popular after he did it on Christy Turlington. It's 'basically grabbing handfuls of hair and highlighting them,' Barnette wrote. Before I reached out, Johns wasn't even aware that American Love Story was happening and hadn't seen the images. After they popped up in his inbox (courtesy of a few screenshots I sent), his ruling was blunt: 'No one would believe that Carolyn in the '90s would ever have that color from me. It's too 2024.' After that, we decided to get on the phone and chat more about Bessette's hair color, their relationship, and more. First, I ask Johns to describe Bessette's exact color to me, something he says 'we worked really hard to get right.' Bessette's hair was a natural light brown, but he took her to what he describes as a 'toffee' shade. From there, it was all about his signature chunking technique. 'I went in and put the highlight chunks in three foils around the front of her face, and then two underneath for when she wore her hair up.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's stylish legacy has been utterly betrayed
When it comes to a costume designer's dream subject, you would think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy would be high on the list. The epitome of Nineties minimalism and pared-back elegance, the striking blonde Calvin Klein publicist and wife of John F Kennedy Jr left an indelible mark on fashion. Her slip dresses, crisp white shirts, immaculate tailoring, on-point denim and unbranded accessories were a blueprint for now-ubiquitous ' stealth wealth ' dressing, marking a clear shift from Eighties extravagance. In the social media age, her influence has not only endured but intensified; it's rare to see a mood board or stylish Instagram feed that doesn't feature her sleek silhouettes. If I could inherit the wardrobe of any fashion icon living or dead, it would be CBK's. So when news broke of the upcoming television series American Love Story, which will tell the tale of the ill-fated golden couple who married in 1996 and died in a plane crash in 1999, it was an exciting prospect. However, when the first look appeared online over the weekend, I – and every other self-respecting fashion fan with access to the internet – was nothing short of horrified. The series of images taken from a camera test were posted on Instagram by Ryan Murphy, the American writer-director-producer behind the series (who's proved his skill in everything from Glee to fashion fable The Assassination of Gianni Versace). The post shows actors Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, who reportedly beat thousands of others who auditioned, in their upcoming roles as the tragic lovers. Some elements of the stills are convincing – Kelly looks the image of JFK Jr in a double-breasted dark grey suit and crimson patterned tie. Pidgeon's outfit, on the other hand, completely misses the mark, suggesting that the series will be a betrayal of CBK's stylish legacy. Everything about the look, based around a camel coat that feels more Karen Millen than Calvin Klein, feels off. 'I don't want to criticise the actor, because there's so much more to a role than the way you look, but it's baffling – it looks like an AI creation,' says writer and fashion influencer Camille Charrière, who was one of many commentators who expressed dismay on social media. 'Carolyn's spectacular simplicity is so recognisable. Everything she wore was about proportions, and I think that's why everyone who has pored over pictures of her is up in arms. Why is she wearing ankle-grazing trousers with those shoes? She would never have put those two things together. The length of the coat is wrong, the width of the shoulders is wrong, even the bag [an Hermès Birkin] is visibly empty.' The stakes are high because, as well as an enduring style muse, CBK was a culturally significant figure. As a working woman, she was an outlier in the upper echelons of Manhattan society, and is remembered for her refusal to pander to media attention in an era when high-profile women were intensely scrutinised. Her wardrobe echoed this quiet dignity and made American fashion covetable – crucial to the industry now more than ever amid Donald Trump's tariffs. 'She wore everything with this kind of classic, American sportswear mentality and intelligence,' says Sunita Kumar Nair, who wrote CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion. 'That was the mainstay of all the leading American designers in the Nineties. She worked for Calvin Klein, so she knew how to draw on the ease and simplicity of it all and make it accessible. She had this kind of inner assuredness that was really captivating, but at the same time she never really gave too much away.' Admittedly, it does sound like a hard balance to strike, and inimitable style does sometimes remain just that. 'Simplicity is often the hardest thing to get right,' says Charrière. 'That's why The Row has such a fanatical fan base, even though the prices are through the roof. It's not actually that easy to find well-made items that have those easy, simple cuts.' But the thing that's most galling about the CBK costume debacle is that many of her most recognisable pieces are still readily available to purchase today. Take, for example, the high-waisted bootcut jeans she owned in both medium and dark washes – they're Levi's 517 style, which can be found in plentiful supply on Vinted and in vintage shops. Then there's the unbranded oval sunglasses she owned in both black and tortoiseshell, still made by New York-based label Selima Optique (if their £448 price tag feels prohibitive, contemporary labels like Le Specs and Jimmy Fairly offer convincing alternatives for around the £100 mark). And while American Love Story might have maxed out its handbag budget on the Birkin Pidgeon is pictured carrying, here's hoping the costume department has also picked up a Boat and Tote from quintessential New England brand, L L Bean. CBK favoured the large iteration of the durable canvas holdall, which can allegedly carry more than 200kg and retails for just £41. Rather than buying new, fans – and costume designers, for that matter – might be best advised to shop second-hand, recreating what Charrière refers to as CBK's 'essence' rather than her copying her exact wardrobe look-for-look. 'If you're putting her in new clothes, it's not going to look right, because none of her outfits were box fresh,' she says. 'You'd never see her in a full runway look – she always mixed and matched pieces. She had a very lived-in wardrobe and wore things again and again, which is something we just don't see anymore.' Disgruntled fans will have to wait until February 2026, when the series is due to be released, to see if any aspects of the style icon's legacy have been honoured for television. Until then, we'll be taking CBK as a reference point for timeless, trend-proof dressing – as always.
Vogue
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Everything You Need to Know About Ryan Murphy's American Love Story
Following his American Horror Story, American Crime Story, and American Sports Story franchises, prolific producer Ryan Murphy is returning with American Love Story, a new spin-off anthology series centered on romances that captured the world's attention. The first installment's focus? Eternal style icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr. So, who will play Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in American Love Story? Sarah Pidgeon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Sarah Pidgeon, the American actor and rapidly rising star whom you might recognize from Prime Video's The Wilds, or as the younger version of Kathryn Hahn's character in Hulu's Tiny Beautiful Things, is taking the lead as the impossibly glamorous Bessette-Kennedy. It's sure to be the 28-year-old's splashiest onscreen part to date, though she did recently earn a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in David Adjmi's Stereophonic, and is also due to star in the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot alongside returning favorites Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. With her stellar acting chops, immaculate style, and the uncanny resemblance between the pair, this certainly looks like impeccable casting. And who will play Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in American Love Story? Naomi Watts Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis The same is true for the part of Jackie, Bessette-Kennedy's mother-in-law, which will be taken by none other than Naomi Watts. (Coincidentally, Watts and Pidgeon have already worked together on Scott McGehee and David Siegel's 2024 drama The Friend.) A veteran of the Ryan Murphy televisual universe, who starred in Netflix's The Watcher and received both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her recent portrayal of Babe Paley in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Watts is a natural fit to play Paley's fellow socialite and New York stalwart. She joins a long list of famous faces who have taken on different eras of the former first lady's life, from Katie Holmes in the 2011 miniseries The Kennedys to Natalie Portman in 2016's Jackie. It may be a little while yet before we see Watts in Jackie's signature pearls and pillbox hats, but before then, make sure to look out for the double Oscar nominee in another breathlessly awaited Murphy-helmed project: All's Fair, the glossy legal drama in which she'll co-star with Kim Kardashian, Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash, and Teyana Taylor. Who else will be in the cast of American Love Story? Paul Kelly Photo: Instagram / @ofishalpak John F Kennedy Jr. The show's central trio was completed with newcomer Paul Kelly, who'll be taking the part of John F. Kennedy Jr, the son of JFK and Jackie and the husband of Carolyn. Murphy and his casting team reportedly auditioned more than 1,000 actors before selecting Kelly, and despite his lack of major credits, the handsome actor undoubtedly looks the part. Deadline broke more casting news in June, revealing that Grace Gummer would play JFK Jr.'s older sister, Caroline Kennedy; Sydney Lemmon, known for her roles on television (in Helstrom and Fear the Walking Dead) as well as on Broadway (in Max Wolf Friedlich's Job), would play Carolyn's sister, Lauren Bessette, who was aboard the same plane that claimed her sibling and brother-in-law's lives; and Alessandro Nivola would play Carolyn's longtim employer, Calvin Klein. What will be the plot of American Love Story? Carolyn Bessette, born in upstate New York and raised in Connecticut, was a fashion publicist who worked at Calvin Klein, and met John F. Kennedy Jr., then an attorney and prominent publisher, in 1992, when he was still dating Splash star Daryl Hannah. He and Bessette got together two years later, were engaged by 1995, and for their secret 1996 wedding, she chose a minimalist white slip dress by Narciso Rodriguez, her friend and colleague at Calvin Klein, making the designer a household name overnight.
