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JFK Jr. & Carolyn: The Price of Fame
13 Feb
Summary
- The show explores America's intense possessiveness toward public figures.
- Carolyn Bessette Kennedy had no desire for fame or the spotlight.
- Casting JFK Jr. and Carolyn required capturing electric chemistry.
The series "Love Story" offers a nuanced look at the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, framing America's intense public fascination as the central trial.
Executive producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson noted the profound scrutiny surrounding the show, with Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Bessette Kennedy, experiencing intense paparazzi attention, mirroring Carolyn's own past struggles.
Jacobson described the public's connection to JFK Jr. and Bessette Kennedy as an early manifestation of modern parasocial relationships, where fans feel ownership over celebrities like Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce.
However, unlike contemporary figures, Bessette Kennedy, a former Calvin Klein publicist, had no interest in fame and lacked control over her public narrative, a stark contrast to today's celebrities.
The series creators emphasized the difficulty in casting the leads, ultimately finding Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, whose convincing chemistry and embodiment of the couple were crucial to the production's success.
"Love Story" serves as a meditation on fame and our societal obsession with attention, particularly in an era where online views equate to cultural currency.
