Daryl Hannah Criticizes Her Representation in the Love Story as 'Typical Misogyny'

      Daryl Hannah claims that the new FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, in which she is depicted as a character, contains falsehoods about her and represents “textbook misogyny.”

      Hannah and JFK Jr. were in a relationship for around five years before he started dating Carolyn Bessette in 1994. The actress, known for films like Splash and Kill Bill, expressed in a guest essay for the New York Times on Friday that Love Story presents her as an antagonist and depicts her unfavorably to encourage the audience to support Kennedy and Bessette's romance.

      “Effective storytelling often has to create tension and obstacles. However, a real person should not be treated as merely a narrative device,” she states. “This mentality also carries a gendered aspect. Popular culture has historically elevated certain women by framing others as rivals, impediments, or villains. Isn’t it a classic case of misogyny to undermine one woman to elevate another?”

      “The portrayal of ‘Daryl Hannah’ in the series does not accurately represent my life, my behavior, or my relationship with John,” she continues. “The actions and characteristics attributed to me are false. I have never used cocaine or hosted cocaine-fueled parties. I have not pressured anyone into marriage. I have never disrespected any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone’s private memorial. I have not planted any stories in the press, nor have I compared Jacqueline Onassis’ death to that of a dog. It is shocking to me that I must defend myself against a television show. These are not merely creative exaggerations of personality; they are false assertions about conduct.”

      Hannah also mentions advice she received from JFK Jr.’s mother, Jacqueline Onassis, noting that she has generally avoided addressing media distortions. She recalls that Onassis once said today’s tabloid tales are tomorrow’s bird cage liner, but acknowledges that this saying no longer holds true in the digital era.

      “A dramatized depiction can become the definitive version of a real person’s life for millions of viewers,” she explains.

      Currently, she focuses on “environmental advocacy, documentary filmmaking, and animal-assisted therapy for seniors living with dementia and Alzheimer’s,” all of which are tied to her reputation.

      “Much like any profession, producing quality work necessitates a solid reputation. This is why I choose to advocate for myself at this moment,” she writes.

      Love Story chronicles John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette’s relationship from their first meeting in the early ’90s until their tragic plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard in 1999. The series was created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, D.V. DeVincentis, Kim Rosenstock, and Hines.

      Murphy has had considerable success with anthologies that fictionalize the lives of well-known figures, such as American Crime Story and Monster. However, the recreation of past traumas often raises objections. For instance, Rita Isbell, the sister of Jeffrey Dahmer’s eleventh victim, expressed her distress at seeing her portrayal in the 2022 series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, as it revived painful memories.

      Representatives for Hines and Murphy did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Friday.

      Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette has become a tremendous success, with FX announcing on Thursday that it is their most-watched limited series ever on streaming, racking up over 25 million viewing hours for the initial five episodes available on Disney+ and Hulu.

      The series has also sparked renewed cultural interest in the glamorous Manhattan scene of the ’90s, as well as Bessette’s work with Calvin Klein.

      Critically, the show has performed well, currently holding an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

      Main image: Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Dree Hemingway as Daryl Hannah in Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. FX

      Editor's Note: Corrects misspelling.