Where is Daryl Hannah now? JFK Jr’s ex calls out FX’s ‘Love Story’ as fans rally to her defense
Ryan Murphy's 'Love Story' might be breaking streaming records for FX, but the success has not been without drama. John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette's highly-publicized romance has been the subject of the inaugural instalment. Now, an actress connected to the life of the former POTUS's son is breaking her silence on 'Love Story'. Daryl Hannah, who dated JFK Jr. for five years, slammed the show for portraying her in the wrong frame. The 65-year-old finally addressed her role on the show following social media backlash over the on-screen depiction, which isn't remotely close to her actual self.
The 'Splash' star's comments on The New York Times have since been doing the rounds. "I have generally chosen not to respond to media coverage of me," Hannah said. "I have long believed that engaging with distortion often amplifies it. But a recent tragedy-exploiting television series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette features a character using my name and presents her as me. The choice to portray her as irritating, self-absorbed, whiny, and inappropriate was no accident." The Chicago native added that her story was told without her consent and crossed a line that forced her to speak out.
"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 continued."The actions and behaviors attributed to me are untrue. I have never used cocaine in my life or hosted cocaine-fueled parties. I have never pressured anyone into marriage. I have never desecrated any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone’s private memorial. I have never planted any story in the press." Hannah and JFK Jr. dated in the 1990s — a time when tabloid coverage on celebrities was relentless.
Hannah's personality on the series has been shown through a heavily dramatized, exaggerated lens (much like HBO did with 'Showtime' and the Los Angeles Lakers). 'Love Story' suggested that she was unstable as a partner and obsessive, leading to their split. In reality, Hannah and JFK separated mutually, with the actress married to rockstar Neil Young. She continues to stay away from the public spotlight until the show has compelled her to come forward and reveal her part of the story. Dree Hemingway plays the actress in the series. On the career front, Hannah has continued her work in front of and behind the camera. She most notably directed 'Coastal,' a documentary on Young's Coastal tour.
As for 'Love Story', the FX series has continued to see steady viewership growth. According to THR, the limited series starring Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon has seen more than 25 million hours of viewing for its first five episodes on Hulu and Disney+. While created for TV, a major chunk of its audience has come from the streamers. The series is created by Connor Hines, with Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Eric Kovtun, Nissa Diederich, Scott Robertson, Monica Levinson, Kim Rosenstock, D.V. DeVincentis, and Tanase Popa serving as executive producers.
