Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story” is a series based on John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s relationship, and it has taken off. Biopics are known to be invasive and inaccurate by leaving out facts and dramatizing a public figure’s life. What no one realizes is they are watching watered-down versions of beloved celebrities, and it’s addicting.
Murphy is behind the hit shows “Glee” and “American Horror Story,” which portray his success. “Love Story” is based on the 2024 book, “Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bassette-Kennedy” by Elizabeth Beller. However, it would be more beneficial to base a story on their relationship rather than using pieces to create a false version of their story.
The show’s story is charming. Though the title is deceiving, as this is not a romance to idolize with the relationship’s turmoil.
Watching as an ignorant viewer of the Kennedy legacy, this was a great story of the hardships of love, especially under the public eye. The show could’ve used the story with fictional characters rather than using the Kennedy name for viewership.
I tend to avoid shows like “The Crown” as I am not interested in the depictions of real people by people who only know magazines, word-of-mouth and interviews. It is one thing to share someone’s story; it’s another to use it for entertainment.
Considering producers didn’t seek Daryl Hannah’s input about her portrayal, it feels Murphy knew it wasn’t an accurate portrayal of the two’s story and knew parts of the show needed to be fact-checked. With how biopics have gained popularity, being asked for input always seems to be a privilege celebrities lose because of their status.
Interestingly enough, each episode is presented with a disclaimer saying, “This story is inspired by actual events. Certain depictions of people and events have been dramatized or fictionalized for storytelling purposes.”
Most public figures were never granted the wish of picking their social status. Some tried to alter it to get the attention off of them. However, the public is always going to want to know more. As fans idolize and obsess over celebrities, unique relationships grow between the two.
Parasocial relationships, as they grow, always end up creating a desire for invasiveness.
Fans often have parasocial relationships with celebrities or public figures because of the amount of information online about them. It’s easy to access a celebrity through paparazzi photos, tabloids and social media posts.
The Kennedy family has always been publicly loved and put in the spotlight. JFK Jr. was the son of former president John F. Kennedy, making the media watch him from an early age. As JFK Jr. aged, he was crowned “Sexiest Man Alive.” The combination of attractiveness and American royalty created a fascination with his life. The paparazzi followed him and his relationships. JFK Jr. and Bassette as a couple was an inspiration for people in the 1990s, from their fashion to their drama.
Hollywood is often criticized for its obsession with biopics. Marc Rivers spoke on the NPR podcast, “All Things Considered,” and said he thinks the “problem with a lot of other biopics is that they're hagiographies, right?” … (other) kind of people are looking upon this person in awe, right?”
Hagiographies are books written about someone other than the author; they idealize the subject. They can be written in tribute to someone, whether that person knows them or not. For “Love Story,” it seems to be a tribute to a beloved couple in American history. However, as a parasocial relationship is created for a new generation, JFK Jr. and Bassette are watered down and not respected.
Criticism from Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former president John F. Kennedy, said Murphy “has never met anyone in my family (and) knows nothing about us.” Schlossberg wants to remind viewers it is fiction, not reality.
The “Love Story” couple was one of the many couples that defined 90s romance. The two were fashion icons, and people told stories of their lives as they avoided paparazzi. Generation X loved the couple then, but the show isn’t striking a chord with them. Critics say the show is a “forgettable elegy for Gen X.”
In speaking with my mom, who is Gen X, she sighed and said, “I remember them; everyone loved them.” She said nothing more. It must be a couple was adored in Gen X’s youth rather than in their middle and older age.
Nostalgia isn’t playing a part for Gen X with the release of “Love Story,” rather, Millennials and Generation Z are using it as inspiration and romanticization of a time they weren’t alive or old enough to care.
Most viewers are using the show for its ‘90s aesthetic, another instance of watering down the story. Creating looks inspired by fashion publicist Bessette and classic American JFK Jr. seems to be the outcome of the show.
Creating a new mood board and shifting to resemble a character is nothing new, but it feels wrong coming from the romanticization of the Kennedy family that is never-ending.
Viewers are addicted to the parasocial versions of these celebrities that are created. In a way, it might be peaceful for a public figure to know they can have privacy in a false depiction. If no one knows what they do, their biopic can be so inaccurate that their life is sacred like anyone else’s.
We are always going to romanticize celebrities. Biopics don’t show the facts, but our own interpretations of them. When watching shows and movies like “Love Story,” remember to separate the celebrity from the actor on screen. In other words, don’t assume everything scripted is the truth. These things are a tribute, whether they try to be truly invasive or not. Remembering beloved celebrities doesn’t hurt, but digging into their lives and watering them down does.
Oh well, continue to watch “Love Story,” but remember the couple's true love story isn’t depicted accurately in this biopic.
Cassidy McClurg is a freshman student studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassidy about their column? Email cm303824@ohio.edu
