Daryl Hannah Slams "Love Story" TV Series in Scathing Op-Ed

The actress denies depictions of her in the show as "untrue" and "appalling".

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Daryl Hannah, who dated the late John F. Kennedy Jr., has written a scathing op-ed for The New York Times denouncing the FX series "Love Story" for its portrayal of her character. Hannah says the show's depictions of her as "irritating, self-absorbed, whiny and inappropriate" are completely false and that she has never engaged in the behaviors attributed to her on-screen, such as using cocaine, pressuring anyone into marriage, or desecrating family heirlooms. She calls the show's treatment of her character an example of "misogyny" and says she is speaking out despite typically valuing her privacy because "silence should not be mistaken for agreement with lies."

Why it matters

This op-ed from Daryl Hannah represents a high-profile celebrity pushback against a popular TV series that she feels has unfairly and inaccurately depicted her. It raises questions about creative license, journalistic integrity, and the rights of real people whose lives are dramatized on-screen, especially in the wake of a tragic event like the death of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

The details

In the op-ed, Hannah denies a number of specific behaviors attributed to her character in "Love Story," including using cocaine, pressuring anyone into marriage, desecrating family heirlooms, and planting stories in the press. She says these are "not creative embellishments of personality" but "assertions about conduct" that are "false." Hannah also says she has received threats since the show's airing and that while she typically values privacy, she felt compelled to speak out against the "lies" depicted in the series.

  • The FX series "Love Story" about the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette aired in 2026.

The players

Daryl Hannah

An American actress who dated John F. Kennedy Jr. and is depicted in the FX series "Love Story."

John F. Kennedy Jr.

The son of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, whose relationship with Carolyn Bessette is the focus of the FX series "Love Story."

Carolyn Bessette

The wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., whose relationship with him is the focus of the FX series "Love Story."

Ryan Murphy

The creator of the FX series "Love Story" about the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

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What they’re saying

“I have never used cocaine in my life or hosted cocaine-fueled parties. I have never pressured anyone into marriage. I have never desecrated any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone's private memorial. I have never planted any story in the press. I never compared Jacqueline Onassis' death to a dog's. It's appalling to me that I even have to defend myself against a television show. These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct — and they are false.”

— Daryl Hannah (The New York Times)

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges and controversies that can arise when real-life figures and events are dramatized on television, especially when the depictions are seen as unfair or inaccurate by the people being portrayed. It raises questions about the balance between creative license and journalistic integrity, as well as the rights of individuals whose lives are put on display.