FX's 'Love Story' Sparks 90s History Lessons on TikTok

The show about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette has inspired a wave of videos unpacking the real-life details behind the dramatized series.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:28pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The new FX series 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette' has prompted an unexpected surge of history lessons on TikTok. Videos about what's fact and what's fiction in the show have garnered hundreds of thousands of views and plenty of debate in the comments. Many viewers expressed heartbreak to just be finding out that Kennedy and Bessette were killed in a 1999 plane crash, meaning there wouldn't be a happy ending on the show.

Why it matters

The romance and life of Kennedy and Bessette in pre-9/11 New York have reminded certain generations of that specific time period, while for others it has been a lesson in the social landscape of the 1990s and the Kennedy dynasty. The show has sparked a wave of TikTok videos unpacking the real-life details behind the dramatized series.

The details

The show has inspired TikTokers like Jules Skylar (@lastinglooks) to post comparisons between the show's portrayals and real-life interviews and articles documenting Kennedy and Bessette's lives. Viewers have also been quick to pull up photographic and video evidence of the couple's interactions with paparazzi in 1990s New York. The show's depiction of Bessette's reaction to Princess Diana's death and the couple's involvement with Kennedy's magazine George have also prompted online discussions.

  • The FX series 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette' concluded on Thursday, March 23, 2026.
  • Kennedy and Bessette were killed on July 16, 1999 when the plane Kennedy was piloting crashed on the way to Martha's Vineyard.

The players

Jules Skylar

A 40-year-old TikTok creator who has been posting throughout the season of 'Love Story', including about the show's portrayals compared to real-life details about Kennedy and Bessette.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

The son of President John F. Kennedy, who was in a high-profile relationship with Carolyn Bessette until their deaths in a 1999 plane crash.

Carolyn Bessette

The wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. who, along with her sister Lauren, died in the 1999 plane crash with Kennedy.

Ryan Murphy

The creator of the FX series 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette'.

Jack Schlossberg

The nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr. and the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, who has voiced his disdain for the 'Love Story' series.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was a little too young when they were famous to know much about them. But now watching the show, I have become obsessed with reading and watching everything about them. I fully understand the public fascination back then.”

— Jules Skylar, TikTok creator

“No, I won't be watching. But you should — watch it, and fall in love with them the way we all did back then.”

— Carole Radziwill, Friend of Carolyn Bessette

“I have received many hostile and even threatening messages from viewers who seem to believe the portrayal is factual. When entertainment borrows a real person's name, it can permanently impact her reputation.”

— Daryl Hannah

“Carolyn was horrified by Diana's death. She was also rattled by the fact that it could happen to John — that it could happen to her. She feared, 'Now they're going to focus on us even more because they don't have her.'”

— RoseMarie Terenzio, Kennedy's executive assistant at George magazine

“I just ask for any privacy you can give her as she makes that adjustment, would be greatly appreciated.”

— John F. Kennedy Jr.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.