Daryl Hannah Slams ‘Love Story’ Portrayal as “False” and “Whiny”
Daryl Hannah has publicly criticized FX’s limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, denouncing her depiction in the present as inaccurate, damaging, and rooted in misogyny. Her critique came in a scathing guest essay published in The New York Times on Friday, March 7, 2026.
A Disputed Depiction
Hannah, 65, takes issue with how the series, created by Connor Hines, portrays her as an “adversary” to the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. And Carolyn Bessette. She specifically objects to being characterized as “irritating, self-absorbed, whiny and inappropriate,” as well as allegations of cocaine use and disruptive behavior. The character is played by Dree Hemingway.
“The character ‘Daryl Hannah’ portrayed in the series is not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John,” Hannah wrote in the essay. She vehemently denies several specific claims made by the show, including allegations of cocaine use, pressuring Kennedy into marriage, desecrating family heirlooms, and intruding on private memorials.
Misogyny and Narrative Devices
Hannah argues that the show utilizes her character as a “narrative device” to create tension, falling into what she describes as “textbook misogyny” by pitting women against each other. She questions the practice of elevating one woman by tearing down another.
“Storytelling requires tension,” Hannah writes. “It often requires an obstacle. But a real, living person is not a narrative device. There is also a gendered dimension to this thinking. Popular culture has long elevated certain women by portraying others as rivals, obstacles or villains.”
Impact and Response
Since the series premiered in February, Hannah says she has received numerous “hostile and even threatening” messages from viewers who believed the show’s portrayal was factual. She expressed concern that the series could permanently damage her reputation.
A representative for FX has not yet responded to a request for comment according to Deadline.
Broader Criticism of the Series
Hannah is not the only one to voice criticism of Love Story. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr., previously criticized the series, stating that Ryan Murphy “knows nothing” about his family and is profiting from a “grotesque display” of their lives as reported by People.
Hannah stated that her decision to speak out was driven by a desire to protect her reputation and continue her philanthropic perform. She emphasized the importance of respecting the privacy of the Kennedy family and condemned “self-serving sensationalists trading in gossip, innuendo and speculation.”
“In a digital era, entertainment often becomes collective memory,” she wrote. “Real names are not fictional tools. They belong to real lives.”