Close Friends Reflect on FX's 'Love Story' Miniseries About JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette

Some friends say the show's portrayal of the couple was 'pissed off' and 'reckless, tasteless and cruel'

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:53pm

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An extreme, abstract close-up photograph of shattered glass and glittering sequins in dramatic high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the complex emotions surrounding the lives and deaths of this famous couple.The glamour and tragedy surrounding the lives of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are evoked through an abstract close-up of shattered glass and glittering sequins.NYC Today

Following the season finale of FX's 'Love Story' miniseries about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, some of their close friends have shared their honest thoughts about the show's portrayal of the couple. While some enjoyed it as 'theater,' others were upset by what they felt were 'reductive stereotypes' and a dramatization of the couple's final moments that was 'reckless, tasteless and cruel to both families'.

Why it matters

The loss of JFK Jr., Carolyn, and her sister Lauren in a 1999 plane crash remains a deeply felt tragedy, and the dramatization of their lives and final days has stirred up strong emotions for those who knew them well. The show's attempt to 'honor' the couple in its conclusion is seen by some as falling short, raising questions about the ethics of reenacting real-life tragedies for entertainment.

The details

The FX miniseries 'Love Story' has sparked a range of reactions from close friends of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. While some enjoyed it as 'theater,' others felt the show's portrayal of certain people was 'pissed off' and 'reductive.' In particular, friends were upset by the dramatization of the couple's final days, with one saying any reenactment of their last moments is 'reckless, tasteless and cruel to both families.' The show's producers have said they aimed to 'end in a way that honored' John and Carolyn, but a close friend believes that was not achieved.

  • The FX miniseries 'Love Story' aired its season finale on March 27, 2026.

The players

RoseMarie Terenzio

John F. Kennedy Jr.'s executive assistant at George magazine and a close friend to him, Carolyn, and Lauren Bessette.

Matt Berman

George magazine's creative director, whose 2014 memoir 'JFK Jr., George, & Me' detailed his friendship with the couple.

Guy Clark

An interior designer and friend of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

Brad Simpson

The executive producer of the 'Love Story' miniseries.

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What they’re saying

“From what I've seen I don't recognize them, even if it's fiction. Even Michael Berman, who was my boss for two years. That's not him at all. John and Michael were equal partners in George. And by the way, Michael was just as tall as John.”

— RoseMarie Terenzio, John F. Kennedy Jr.'s executive assistant

“It's hard for me because I remember the true story in detail and the nuances. Like they're imitating them but I don't really feel like it's them because it doesn't have the millions of quirky nuances and subtleties of the two people I knew. They took broad strokes from the books but I think it's missing the things that make a person 'real.'”

— Matt Berman, George magazine's creative director

“I enjoyed it as theater. Up until the final episodes, 8 and 9.”

— Guy Clark, interior designer and friend of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

The takeaway

The dramatization of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's lives and tragic deaths in the 'Love Story' miniseries has stirred up complex emotions for those who knew them well. While some found value in the show as a work of 'theater,' others felt the portrayal was reductive and disrespectful, especially when it came to the depiction of the couple's final moments. This highlights the challenges and ethical considerations around reenacting real-life tragedies for entertainment purposes.