Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy and a congressional candidate in New York, has openly condemned Ryan Murphy’s upcoming television series about his uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr. The series, titled Love Story, focuses on the romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, a fashion publicist, which tragically ended in a fatal plane crash in 1999. Schlossberg expressed his strong disapproval of Murphy’s dramatization of the late couple’s life, emphasizing the absence of input from the Kennedy family in the production.
Family Concerns Over Lack of Authenticity in the Drama
Love Story is not based on any firsthand accounts from members of the Kennedy family, a point that deeply concerns Schlossberg. As the son of Caroline Kennedy, JFK Jr.’s sister, he spoke out during an interview with CBS’s Sunday Morning, calling into question the accuracy and motives behind Murphy’s portrayal. Schlossberg urged viewers to approach the series with skepticism, highlighting that Murphy lacks any meaningful connection to the family or their history.
If you want to know someone who’s never met anyone in my family, knows nothing about us, talk to Ryan Murphy,
Schlossberg said.
I would just want people who do watch the show to watch it with one letter in mind, and that’s a capital ‘F’ for fiction. The guy knows nothing about what he’s talking about, and he’s making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.
— Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson and congressional candidate
Ryan Murphy’s History with Controversial Biographical Dramas
Ryan Murphy, known for producing dramatizations such as The People v. O.J. Simpson and The Assassination of Gianni Versace, has previously encountered backlash for not consulting the real individuals his projects depict. Murphy has maintained a consistent stance on not meeting the real-life subjects or their families, focusing instead on his interpretation of events. While he has not directly responded to Schlossberg’s recent criticism, Murphy explained his approach during the making of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, describing the limited value he sees in discussions with the Menendez brothers themselves.
I don’t know what I would say to them. What would I ask them? I know what their perspective is,
Murphy stated.
Production Team Defends Their Research Approach
Nina Jacobson, an executive producer of Love Story, addressed the Kennedy family’s disapproval in a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She explained that the production team deliberately avoids direct engagement with public figures or their relatives to maintain creative independence. Jacobson stressed that engaging with living subjects often results in conflicting narratives and pressures for portrayal adjustments.
We have done a lot of stories rooted in real events, many times where the people are still alive, or relatives of the people are still alive,
Jacobson explained.
Generally speaking, we don’t engage with the people who are public figures, because you end up either feeling obligated to honor something that they ask you, ‘Please portray me this way, but not that way,’ or you feel that, that you’re having competing versions.
She added,
When you take more of a research posture as opposed to a personal interview position, we have found that you get a more dimensional view, even though you are missing the chance to talk to the people themselves.
Family Demands Accountability and Ethical Considerations
In response to the series and the profit it is expected to generate, Schlossberg believes Ryan Murphy should contribute a portion of the earnings to charitable causes supported by Kennedy family members. This request underscores the family’s frustration with what they see as an exploitative portrayal of their uncle’s life for financial gain. The sharp criticism from JFK’s grandson highlights the tension between creative freedom in dramatizations and respect for the legacies of real people.
