Daryl Hannah has strongly criticized the depiction of her character in the new TV series centered on John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, labeling it as inaccurate, harmful, and misogynistic. In an opinion piece for the New York Times, Hannah questioned the portrayal of her in “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” a romanticized exploration of the couple’s relationship that ended tragically in a plane crash in 1999.
The actress, who had a romantic history with Kennedy, expressed her dismay at the portrayal of her character in the series, played by Dree Hemingway, as unflattering and inaccurate. Denying the actions attributed to her character in the show, Hannah refuted claims of drug use, pressuring someone into marriage, and other behaviors that she stated were entirely fabricated.
Hannah’s critique is not isolated, as other members of the Kennedy family, including Jack Schlossberg, have also condemned the show for exploiting the family’s tragic past. Hannah highlighted the personal nature of the attacks against her character, emphasizing that the producers had positioned her as an impediment to the central love story, resulting in a negative and misrepresented portrayal.
Despite the show’s creators’ claims of aiming for compassion and complexity in character portrayal, Hannah felt her character was unfairly depicted, leading her to speak out in defense of her reputation and integrity. Drawing attention to the underlying misogyny in pitting women against each other for dramatic effect, Hannah questioned the ethics of tearing down one woman to elevate another.
In her closing remarks, Hannah reflected on advice she received from Jacqueline Onassis, emphasizing the evolving landscape of media scrutiny and the lasting impact of falsehoods in the digital age. She underscored the importance of maintaining her reputation to continue her meaningful work, pointing out the detrimental effects of false narratives perpetuated in the media.
