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'Love Story' Producer Reacts To Daryl Hannah's Claim That Her Portrayal Is 'Textbook Misogyny'
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One of the producers of “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” is speaking out in response to actor Daryl Hannah’s scathing take on the smash television series. Earlier this month, Hannah published an essay in The New York Times in which she blasted “Love Story” as “tragedy-exploiting” and an example of “textbook misogyny” while criticizing the way she is portrayed in the series by actor Dree Hemingway, calling the characterization “irritating, self-absorbed, whiny and inappropriate.” Speaking to Variety in an interview published Friday, producer Brad Simpson insisted he and the show’s creative team had approached “every character with empathy and love” while acknowledging “it’s difficult for some people to see themselves represented” on screen. “You know, from the beginning of this, this was going to be John and Carolyn’s story, and we put a lot of research and rigor into all the people and moments in the series that ultimately shaped their relationship,” he said. “We read a lot of biographies and journalistic accounts. Anytime you’re dealing with characters that are based on real people, there are big emotions and sensibilities.” He added that the show underwent “very vigorous fact checking” ahead of its Feb. 12 premiere on FX and Hulu, seemingly shrugging off Hannah’s assertion that the show “is not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John.” “The legal team is very rigorous about fact checking us, even though it’s a dramatization,” he said. “And even though these shows say from the beginning that we are trying to tell the emotional truth and we’re dramatizing events.” “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” stars Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as Kennedy and Bessette Kennedy, respectively, and is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, whose credits include “Glee” and “American Horror Story.” The series follows the romance between Kennedy ― the late son of former President John F. Kennedy and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ― and Bessette, a fashion publicist at Calvin Klein. The couple were married in 1996, about three years before they were killed when the private plane Kennedy was piloting crashed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Hannah, best known for her roles in films like “Splash” and “Kill Bill,” dated Kennedy from about 1989 to 1994. Their romance was believed to have still been ongoing when Kennedy and Bessette were introduced. Despite mixed reviews, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” has led to a resurgence of interest in Kennedy and Bessette Kennedy. Still, the series has gotten a chilly reception from those with personal ties to the couple it depicts, including Kennedy’s nephew Jack Schlossberg, who gave it “a capital ‘F’ for fiction.” By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
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