Daryl Hannah Slams ‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ Series Over ‘Misogynistic’ Portrayal

By Alexus Mosley

Actress Daryl Hannah is speaking out against the FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, criticizing the show for what she calls a “misogynistic” and inaccurate portrayal of her younger self.

In an op-ed published in The New York Times, the Splash and Kill Bill star condemned the series for depicting her as “irritating, self-absorbed, whiny and inappropriate.” “It’s appalling to me that I even have to defend myself against a television show,” Hannah wrote. “These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct — and they are false.”

The Ryan Murphy–produced series chronicles the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, whose relationship captivated the public before their tragic deaths in a 1999 plane crash. In the show, Hannah (who dated Kennedy in the early 1990s) is portrayed by Dree Hemingway. Hannah argues that the series turns her into a “narrative device” meant to create tension between two women, something she calls “textbook misogyny.”

“Popular culture has long elevated certain women by portraying others as rivals, obstacles or villains,” she wrote. “Isn’t it textbook misogyny to tear down one woman to build up another?” The actress also pushed back on several specific depictions in the show, including allegations of cocaine use and other negative characterizations, calling them “not even a remotely accurate representation.” Hannah said the portrayal has sparked “hostile and even threatening” messages directed at her since the show premiered.

Her criticism follows comments from Kennedy’s nephew, Jack Schlossberg, who also blasted the series in a recent interview, saying creator Ryan Murphy “knows nothing about what he’s talking about.”

Despite the backlash, the series has proven to be a major success for FX and Disney+, reportedly drawing 25 million hours of viewing across its first five episodes and becoming the most-watched FX limited series to date.

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