Fans are in shock: this scene from JFK's Love Story is complete nonsense
Everyone around me, including your editor-in-chief, is captivated by Love Story, an eight-part drama series about the life and love of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette. The series breathes everything: a nearly royal love story that reads like a fairy tale (“just” girl meets the horrifically desired John F. Kennedy Jr.), it takes place in New York, is drenched in fashion, and also gives you a few history lessons.
Carolyn Bessette determines, almost 27 years after her death, what we wear again and I suspect that Calvin Klein, the fashion brand she worked for, will also experience an extra revival. Yet fans are disappointed and unfortunately, I have to count myself among this club. Because of course, some parts are dramatized and as a creator, you sometimes have to bend a storyline a bit in favor of the whole, but some things? Those were, in my opinion, just unnecessary. And there is a storyline that I loved so intensely and it turns out that it is not true. I will go through them all with you.
1. The meeting
So it was not during a fundraiser where JFK and Carolyn were both present, but at a fitting session at Calvin Klein. John F. wanted to have a tailored suit made and Calvin and his wife Kelly Klein had of course found Carolyn to be the best candidate to tailor John F. Kennedy into the suit. In the good sense of the word, of course. According to biographers, John left the place with three ordered suits and Carolyn's number.
2. Carolyn did not discover Kate Moss
She certainly recommended her for the campaign, but at that time Kate Moss was already working as a model and had walked various shows. Of course, this was the decisive push that everyone needs in their life, but it is not that Miss Moss was a total nobody. Fun detail: she lived in the same apartment complex as Carolyn. Where Narciso Rodriguez also lived. How cozy there.
3. The argument in the park
There was an argument, certainly, there are even images of it. However, it is said that it did not take place in Battery Park, but in Washington Square Park. The subject would also have been different. The series makes us believe that they are arguing about the engagement, but according to insiders, they argued about the fact that John was being too influenced by his friends and not choosing Carolyn enough.
4. Daryl Hannah would not have done any of this
I do need to make a small note here, because the one who mentions this is Daryl Hannah herself. A bit in the category: We from WC-Eend advise WC-Eend. Or Willem-Alexander saying that the regime of Videla was not so bad and pointing to a letter to the editor in an Argentine newspaper as evidence. Anyway. That Daryl Hannah is not happy with the flattened caricature of herself, I understand. She also claims to have never used cocaine, to have appeared unannounced and especially uninvited at a memorial service, to have never tipped the press (“Hey guys, John and I will be there and there”) and she would not have compared the death of Jackie Kennedy (John F.'s mother) with the death of her dog. What is true is that Daryl's dog was hit by a car when John was walking him. A trauma for both.
5. John did not propose to Carolyn with Jackie’s ring
The truth lurks around the corner, but is just a bit different. Because Jackie thought it was a shame to swim with her wedding and engagement ring, she had a ‘swimming ring’ for those moments that was also very dear to her. John had that ring replicated with his own interpretation, choosing blue sapphires and diamonds instead of emeralds, resulting in a somewhat more minimalist ring that perfectly matched Carolyn's understated style.
6. The fable surrounding his magazine George
That things did not go well between John and his partner is clear and understandable. John, born with a golden pacifier in his mouth, had a slightly different work ethic than his colleague Michael Berman. But it was not the case that Berman wanted John and Carolyn's wedding photos to be published exclusively in the magazine in a desperate attempt to boost sales figures. That would also completely contradict the DNA of the magazine (a politically engaged publication), so I found it a remarkable choice.
7. And then the saddest fable
One of the sweetest scenes of the series was the night before their wedding. John and Carolyn find each other on the beach, dance, talk, love each other, and eventually fall asleep in each other's arms on the beach. In true John and Carolyn tradition – namely both regularly late – they wake up startled and decide that a dive is more important than the waiting guests. But this is not true. According to people who were there, John and Carolyn actually slept apart because they found it very important to sleep separately the night before their wedding. They slept in Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island in separate rooms; there are witnesses to that. I found it a beautiful scene, but now that it turns out not to be true, it does crumble a bit for me.
I am now going to watch the last seven minutes of the very last episode, even though it is Tuesday morning and I should actually be doing much more useful things. With a heavy heart, because despite the mistakes (there are also a number of things that are not correct about the wedding dress and episode 8) This is my favorite series of the year and there will be an immeasurable deep viewing gap. Any suggestions?
