Love Story: Daryl Hannah Calls Out ‘Cruel’ & ‘False’ Portrayal in JFK Jr. Series

The FX/Hulu series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Kennedy isn’t just revisiting a tragic chapter in American history; it’s actively rewriting it, and not to the benefit of those involved. While the indicate aims to humanize the intensely scrutinized couple, it does so by painting a particularly unflattering, and many argue, unfair portrait of JFK Jr.’s former girlfriend, Daryl Hannah. The depiction has sparked considerable backlash, including a direct statement from Hannah herself, who vehemently disputes the show’s characterization of her and her relationship with Kennedy.

A Villain Edit Where Nuance Was Needed

The series singles out Hannah as a source of turbulence in Kennedy’s life, a narrative that critics and those who knew the couple are calling gratuitously nasty. One particularly jarring scene depicts Hannah showing up uninvited at Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ wake, immediately followed by a crass inquiry about a coat check. Later, she accosts Kennedy, questioning why mourners are asking about their relationship status. The show consistently presents Hannah as attention-seeking and disruptive, a stark contrast to the idealized portrayal of Bessette Kennedy. As The Guardian noted in its review, the show’s treatment of Hannah feels particularly pointed and unnecessary.

Beyond the wake scene, the show further diminishes Hannah’s character. A sequence shows her performing a headstand in Kennedy’s living room while friends snort cocaine, a visual shorthand meant to convey chaos and a performative need for attention. Another scene suggests that Hannah saw a relationship with Kennedy as a path to fame and fortune, explicitly stating she felt her career was “drying up.” These moments, taken together, create a caricature that feels far removed from the complexities of the real relationship.

Hannah’s Direct Response: “Assertions About Conduct—and They Are False”

The criticism reached a boiling point when Hannah released a detailed statement directly addressing the inaccuracies in the show’s portrayal. She categorically denied several claims made by the series, including allegations of cocaine use, pressuring Kennedy into marriage, and disrespectful behavior at the wake. Hannah’s statement, published and widely reported, is blunt: “The character ‘Daryl Hannah’ portrayed in the series is not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John.” She further emphasizes that the show’s assertions are “assertions about conduct—and they are false.”

This isn’t simply a matter of artistic license. As several observers have pointed out, including a former writer for JFK Jr.’s magazine George, the show’s depiction feels deliberately antagonistic. The writer, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, questioned creator Connor Hines and executive producer Ryan Murphy’s “beef with Daryl Hannah,” noting that Kennedy was “preternaturally attracted to smart strong women.”

The Problem With Painting a Villain

The issue isn’t necessarily that Love Story deviates from factual accuracy—docudramas inherently involve dramatization. The core problem is the show’s reliance on a tired trope: positioning women against each other. As Hannah herself points out, the narrative pits her against Bessette Kennedy, reinforcing a misogynistic idea that women must compete for a man’s affection. Nina Jacobson, a producer on the show, seemingly confirmed this approach in an interview with Gold Derby, stating that Hannah “occupies a space where she’s an adversary to what you wish narratively in the story.”

This framing feels particularly lazy. Relationships end for a multitude of reasons, and reducing the dissolution of Kennedy and Hannah’s five-year relationship to Hannah’s supposed flaws is a disservice to both individuals and the complexities of their connection. The show’s creators seemingly lacked the imagination to explore more nuanced explanations, such as differing priorities, geographical distance, or even Jackie Kennedy’s initial reservations about Hannah.

A History of Relationship Dynamics

John F. Kennedy Jr. And Daryl Hannah’s relationship began in the early 1980s, with a chance encounter during family vacations in St. Martin. They reconnected in 1988 at the wedding of Kennedy’s aunt, Lee Radziwill, to director Herbert Ross, who had recently worked with Hannah on Steel Magnolias. By 1988, Kennedy was already a public figure, having been named People’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” while Hannah was establishing herself as a prominent actress with roles in films like Blade Runner, Roxanne, and Splash. Despite their different career paths—Kennedy pursuing law at NYU and Hannah rising in Hollywood—they shared a love for the outdoors, enjoying skiing and camping together.

The relationship ultimately ended in 1994, the same year Kennedy began dating Carolyn Bessette. While the details of the breakup remain largely private, the show’s portrayal suggests a narrative of Hannah’s relentless pursuit of Kennedy and a calculated ambition to leverage the relationship for personal gain. This narrative, however, is demonstrably challenged by Hannah’s own account and the recollections of those who knew them.

What’s Next for ‘Love Story’ and the Conversation Around It?

The controversy surrounding the depiction of Daryl Hannah underscores a larger issue with Love Story: its prioritization of narrative revisionism over nuanced character development. Like much of Ryan Murphy’s work, the series seems more interested in shaping a specific narrative about the Kennedy family than in faithfully representing the lives of those involved. The show’s creators may have intended to redeem Bessette Kennedy’s image, which was often unfairly targeted by the media, but in doing so, they’ve resorted to trashing another woman’s reputation. The series has already concluded its initial run, but the debate surrounding its portrayal of Hannah—and the ethical implications of dramatizing real lives—is likely to continue.