The new anthology series created by renowned producer Ryan Murphy (famous for the Emmy Award-winning series American Horror Story and American Crime Story) has been generating a lot of buzz. The show promises to tell the story of the relationship between JFK Jr., America’s sweetheart, and son of the former president of the United States, with Carolyn Bessette, an elegant executive in the public relations department of the Calvin Klein brand.
Suddenly, the whole country turns its attention to this enigmatic and ideal couple, and then begins a journey full of obstacles, romance, and a captivating soundtrack, especially when “Linger” by The Cranberries played!
But the point is: American Love Story isn’t just a series, it’s a blend of reality and fiction. And the question that has captivated the audience is: what is real and what is invented or merely speculation? So let’s go!
The wedding Day
The marriage proposal happened in 1995, and Carolyn didn’t immediately accept the proposal. She took a few weeks to respond, reflecting on the impact the union would have on her life, which until then had been private. Due to constant media harassment, the couple decided to keep all details about the ceremony completely secret; they got married in 1996 on a secluded island in Georgia.
To keep everyone from finding out, the guests were only notified a few days before the trip, and some only discovered their final destination when they were already on their way. Crazy, right? But from what we saw in the series, it was worth it! The simple and intimate wedding was beautiful.
The Tragedy
The tragic death of both, along with Lauren Bessette, Carolyn’s sister, in a plane crash in 1999 (piloted by John) is a central event in the series. The couple was on their way to Rory Kennedy‘s wedding, when theaircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 11 km off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, due to the pilot’s spatial disorientation in foggy conditions.
The Pressure
The pressure the couple faced from the media was faithfully portrayed. Carolyn struggles with fame and tries to understand her role in the life of one of the most famous men in America at the time. Sometimes she could barely leave the house without being surrounded by paparazzi, which generated a lot of anxiety and isolation.
WHAT WAS DRAMATIZED/FICTION:
The first meeting
It was great that the couple met because of Calvin Klein in the series, but it seems that in real life it was a little different. Carolyn excelled at her job as a saleswoman and was a “VIP whisperer” for your special talent for dealing with celebrities. That’s when Kennedy booked an appointment in the Calvin Klein VIP fitting room and met Bessette.
Jackie Kennedy and Daryl Hannah
The series’ portrayal of Jackie Kennedy’s antipathy towards Daryl Hannah, John Kennedy’s former girlfriend and a famous actress, is not confirmed. Some accounts indicate that Jackie did not want the two to marry, she was not a “fan of the relationship,” but that she was still affectionate. Some of the actress’s behaviors were also dramatized in the series. Daryl said in an article for The New York Times: “The character ‘Daryl Hannah’ portrayed in the series is not even remotely an accurate representation of my life, my conduct, or my relationship with John.”
With that, we can only conclude that the series is indeed based on real events, but that some things were a little more dramatized. I know that the question that may have crossed the minds of many was, “How do they know that’s really what they were talking about when they were alone with no witnesses in the room?” We can’t be sure; perhaps it’s just speculation or an account from someone close to the couple, but one thing is certain: they lived an intense love story that is beautifully portrayed in the series.
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The article above was edited by Larissa Prais.
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