The tragic deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette continue to captivate America's imagination, but the story behind this fascination is far from simple.
The so-called 'Kennedy curse' has its roots in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy over 60 years ago, an event that sparked a public obsession with the Kennedy family that would be fueled by more personal, quieter tragedies.
This obsession has even reached the current US President, Donald Trump, who ordered the release of tens of thousands of FBI documents related to the assassination. Trump's selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaxxer, as health secretary, further highlights this fascination.
JFK's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, has become a vocal critic of those who exploit the Kennedy legacy. He has gained a reputation for fiercely protecting his family's reputation, calling out those who seek to profit from their tragedies.
The latest target of Schlossberg's criticism is Hollywood producer Ryan Murphy, known for his prestige television series based on the crimes and trials of notorious figures like OJ Simpson and Jeffrey Dahmer. Now, Murphy has set his sights on the Kennedys with his new series, 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.'
The series focuses on the famous couple's untimely deaths in 1999 when their plane, piloted by JFK Jr., crashed off Martha's Vineyard, instantly killing JFK Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren.
When the series was announced, Schlossberg stated that the Kennedys had not been consulted, expressing his concern over profiting from his uncle's legacy in a grotesque manner.
Jackie Kennedy was heavily pregnant when her husband won the US presidential election in 1960. Weeks later, she gave birth to their second child, John F. Kennedy Jr., who would spend his early childhood running amok in the White House.
Archival images capture the siblings dancing in the Oval Office, with their father watching from his powerful desk. However, John's time with his father was tragically short-lived.
On November 22, 1963, JFK was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dallas, with Jackie by his side. Three days later, on John's third birthday, a funeral was held, and as the coffin passed, John saluted his father.
John F. Kennedy Jr. grew up in the shadow of his namesake, a burden that historian and friend Steven M. Gillon described as challenging. Gillon wrote, 'It wasn't easy being John... he spent his life trying to develop an authentic self, separate from that of his famous father and well-known family.'
In an attempt to forge his own path, JFK Jr. launched a political magazine called 'George,' despite having little journalistic experience and being cautioned against it. In his editor's letter, John wrote about the challenges of starting a magazine in the realms of politics and religion.
When John shared his idea with his dying mother, Jackie reportedly asked if it would be the 'Mad magazine of politics.' Gillon described 'George' as a natural combination of JFK's fascination with politics and power and Jackie's interest in gossip and style.
John's life took a stylish turn with the arrival of Carolyn Bessette, a woman with an effortless style that earned her the title of a fashion icon in the tabloids.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette first met at Calvin Klein in the early 1990s. John was there for a fitting, and Carolyn was assisting VIP clients. She immediately caught his eye, but Carolyn, with her self-possession, was not easily won over.
As journalist Maureen Callahan wrote, 'No one said no to John F. Kennedy Jr., heir to Camelot, the only living son of the beloved slain president, with movie star looks and charm to match.' But Carolyn did say no, and her independence intrigued John.
Their relationship, though glamorous on the surface, was heavily scrutinized by the media, which only intensified any challenges they faced. In 1996, the couple was photographed fighting in Central Park after Sunday brunch, with the press exploiting Carolyn's image for profit.
J. Randy Taraborrelli, in his biography 'The Kennedy Heirs,' wrote about Carolyn's feeling of being 'hunted' by the press, with her photos fetching thousands of dollars. Richard Bradley, a senior editor at 'George,' commented on John's temper, which the public was unaware of, and how Carolyn's presence seemed to bring out the worst in America's Prince.
Despite the challenges, John and Carolyn married in a small, candlelit ceremony that year, with John's sister Caroline as the matron of honor. However, their time together was tragically short, as their lives were cut short in a plane crash just three years later.
On July 16, 1999, John, Carolyn, and her sister Lauren made plans to fly to Martha's Vineyard for a wedding at the Kennedy Compound in Massachusetts. John, a certified pilot under visual flight rules and enrolled in an instrument training course, was piloting the light plane.
As they flew over the ocean on a dark and hazy night, tragedy struck. The plane spiraled, and John, Carolyn, and Lauren died on impact. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that John fell victim to spatial disorientation and lost control of the plane, with the haze and darkness contributing to the crash.
It took five days to find the wreckage and retrieve their bodies, and the disaster made international headlines. The media frenzy that followed was intense, with every publication and television network clamoring for information.
Historian and friend Steve Gillon described John's actions as reckless, writing, 'There's no such thing as a Kennedy curse... They take risks that most other people would not take. He was reckless. He had been reckless his whole life.'
John's ashes, along with Carolyn's and Lauren's, were scattered into the ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, where they had shared their final moments.
Senator Edward 'Teddy' Kennedy, in his eulogy for his nephew, captured the sentiment that John was the closest thing Americans had to their slain president. He said, 'From the first day of his life, John seemed to belong not only to our family but to the American family. The whole world knew his name before he did.'
The release of the new series may introduce a new generation to the Kennedy family, but it also serves as a reminder to the surviving members of the family that their pain is never truly laid to rest. Critics have already blasted the production, picking apart every detail, from Carolyn's hair color to the style of her Birkin bag.
The Kennedy family's storied history and the public's fascination with their tragedies continue to captivate and intrigue, leaving a lasting impact on American culture and society.
