One of the producers of “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” is speaking out in response to actor Daryl Hannah’s scathing take on the smash television series.
Earlier this month, Hannah published an essay in The New York Times in which she blasted “Love Story” as “tragedy-exploiting” and an example of “textbook misogyny” while criticizing the way she is portrayed in the series by actor Dree Hemingway, calling the characterization “irritating, self-absorbed, whiny and inappropriate.”
Speaking to Variety in an interview published Friday, producer Brad Simpson insisted he and the show’s creative team had approached “every character with empathy and love” while acknowledging “it’s difficult for some people to see themselves represented” on screen.
“You know, from the beginning of this, this was going to be John and Carolyn’s story, and we put a lot of research and rigor into all the people and moments in the series that ultimately shaped their relationship,” he said. “We read a lot of biographies and journalistic accounts. Anytime you’re dealing with characters that are based on real people, there are big emotions and sensibilities.”
He added that the show underwent “very vigorous fact checking” ahead of its Feb. 12 premiere on FX and Hulu, seemingly shrugging off Hannah’s assertion that the show “is not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John.”
