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Topics: Politics, US News, News, TV And Film, Celebrity
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Politics, US News, News, TV And Film, Celebrity
Ryan Murphy's FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette hit our screens last month, and it's sparked a renewed interest in the late couple's tragic story.
The nine-part series, which stars Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr and Sarah Pidgeon as Calvin Klein associate Carolyn Bessette, dramatises the early days of JFK Jr and Carolyn's relationship, depicting the former finding a handwritten note in his gym bag while playing football in Central Park.
The anonymous writer accuses Carolyn of chasing fame, 'fixating' on John, using drugs and surrounding herself with 'shady' friends and ex-partners.
After John confronts Carolyn about it in the show, she storms out of his apartment, and they break up.
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The episode sees John immediately regretting his actions as he calls Carolyn up multiple times to try to get back together.
He ends up showing up at her apartment to apologises and they make up.
According to author Elizabeth Beller, whose 2024 book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy inspired the series, a similar letter did surface early in their relationship in 1992.
"The letter claimed Carolyn was a user, a partier, that she was out for fame and fortune," Beller wrote, adding that Carolyn 'dated guys around town'.
John, who had been raised to be cautious of people seeking proximity to the Kennedy name, reportedly took the letter 'to heart' and at 'face value'.
According to Beller, John confronted Carolyn over dinner at El Teddy's and, after recounting the allegations, he reportedly 'tossed the piece of paper at her, stood, and walked out the door'.
Carolyn 'stared in shock' as he left and later read the letter herself, reportedly finding it 'ridiculous', though she was 'rattled' that he refused to discuss it.
The fallout resulted in the pair breaking up, and they didn't reconcile for about a year.
During that time, John resumed an on-again relationship with Kill Bill actress Daryl Hannah and was also linked to model Julie Baker, while Carolyn dated model Michael Bergin.
They eventually reunited in 1993 and began dating exclusively in early 1994.
"Somehow. John convinced Carolyn to try again. And she gave it a shot. Granted, she knew she wasn't his only option," Beller wrote. "But Carolyn was guarded about the revival of John, treading carefully."
Their relationship went public the following year after paparazzi photos surfaced with John proposing over the Fourth of July weekend in Martha's Vineyard in 1995, and the couple married in September 1996.
However, they suffered a tragic fate and died on 16 July 1999.
John, Carolyn, and Carolyn's older sister Lauren lost their lives when a plane that John was flying crashed off the coast and into the waters of Martha's Vineyard.