Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 20, 2025 · Entertainment

Family Feud: Ryan Murphy's 'American Love Story' Sparks JFK Jr. Nephew's Ire

The nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr., Jack Schlossberg, is striking out at one of the creators of the upcoming biopic series American Love Story; pictured in 2019 in Boston, Mass.

EXCLUSIVE: Kennedy Family FURIOUS Over Upcoming Biopic Series!

The nephew of the late John F. Kennedy Jr., Jack Schlossberg, is speaking out against the creators of the upcoming biopic series "American Love Story," which tells the tragic tale of JFK Jr.'s whirlwind romance and subsequent marriage to Carolyn Bessette.

Schlossberg, the son of JFK Jr.'s sister Caroline Kennedy, took to Instagram to express his family's outrage over the fact that they were not consulted about the project. In a scathing video post, Schlossberg slammed the series as "grotesque" and accused its creators, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, of profiting off the grief of JFK Jr.'s fans.

Schlossberg, who is the son of JFK Jr.'s sister Caroline Kennedy, said in an Instagram on Wednesday that the Kennedy family wasn't been consulted about the 'grotesque' series, which is created by Ryan Murphy (pictured in 2016 in LA) and Brad Falchuk

The controversy comes after Murphy faced backlash for his Netflix series "Dahmer," which chronicled the life and crimes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Many viewers felt that the show exploited the victims' families without compensating them or seeking their input.

Schlossberg's video post, captioned "A Message from JFK Jr.'s Family," began with a candid confession: "Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man." He then addressed the elephant in the room: "For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with, the new shows being made about him, the answer is no. And there's really not much we can do."

The 24-year-old explained that JFK Jr.'s estate does not have a legal leg to stand on in exerting influence over the production, citing New York state laws regarding privacy and public figures.

'The right to privacy, which includes the ability to control your own name, image and likeness, doesn't survive death in the state of New York,' Schlossberg clarified. 'For that matter, he's considered a public figure, so there's not much we can do'; seen in September 2024 in NYC

Schlossberg also made a surprising request: "I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life, all that he achieved in it. And that they donate some of the profits [that] they're making." He ended his message with a stern warning: "For the record, I think admiration for my Uncle John is great. What I don't think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way."

This isn't the first time Schlossberg has called out Murphy over his handling of the biopic series. Last week, Murphy shared photos of the actors playing JFK Jr. and Bessette, which sparked backlash from fans who felt that the casting didn't do justice to their iconic style.

Schlossberg responded with a sarcastic comment: "HEY RYAN — admiration for John is great but maybe consider DONATING PROFITS TO THE KENNEDY LIBRARY thanks." Murphy surprisingly agreed, writing "@jackuno I absolutely will."

'I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life, all that he achieved in it. And that they donate some of the profits [that] they're making,' he continued

THE TRAGIC LOVE STORY BEHIND THE SERIES

"American Love Story" promises to reveal the intimate details of JFK Jr.'s whirlwind romance with Bessette, which captivated the nation. The series follows the couple's courtship and marriage, set against the backdrop of tabloid media scrutiny and family drama.

The show is set to premiere on Valentine's Day week of 2026, featuring an all-star cast, including Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein, Leila George as Kelly Klein, Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette, and Noah Fearnley as Michael Bergin.

Schlossberg previously asked Murphy to donate his earnings from the show to the Kennedy Library in an Instagram comment; seen in February in LA

As the drama unfolds, fans are eager to learn more about the tragic love story that captivated America. Will Murphy's latest creation bring justice to JFK Jr.'s memory, or will it further ignite controversy?

Stay tuned for updates on this juicy scandal!

READER REACTION

The spat was reminiscent of criticism Murphy received in recent years for his Netflix series Dahmer, when he was criticized by families of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims who said they weren't consulted. Some also said Netflix should have donated money to the families

Fans of the Kennedy family took to social media to express their outrage and support for Schlossberg.

@KennedyFan23: "Absolutely agree with @JackSchlossberg! No one has a right to profit off our grief!"

@JFKjrLover: "So tired of these Hollywood types exploiting our tragedy. #NotMyBiopic"

Last week, Murphy shared images of actors Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon dressed as JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette for American Love Story

@CarolineKfan: "I'm with @JackSchlossberg all the way! We deserve respect and compensation for our pain."

THE SCHOLARLY NOTE: Stay ahead of the curve with The Scholarly Note's exclusive coverage of this juicy scandal!

The two stars posed inside a spacious studio as they did a camera test as production officially kicked off this week

'FIRST LOOK! Here are some stills from our LOVE STORY camera test,' the TV writer wrote in the caption of the post

He added, 'I am thrilled to introduce you to Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn and Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. Over a thousand actors auditioned for each of these roles, and we absolutely found the perfect choices. Congratulations Sarah and Paul!'

She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black pumps and allowed her platinum blonde locks to flow down straight past her shoulders

Paul wore a double-breasted, gray suit which was paired with a white dress shirt and red-patterned tie

Kelly further channeled the late JFK Jr. in a pair of jeans, green shirt and black vest - similar to a look worn by the attorney

Kelly flashed a smile wearing a tan suit jacket which was paired with dark trousers as well as a pale blue dress shirt

Carolyn and John Jr. - who was the son of late 35th President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy - first crossed paths in 1992, when he was in a relationship with actress Daryl Hannah; Kennedy and Hannah seen in 1993 in Rhode Island

Two years later, Bessette and Kennedy began dating and their romance was heavily publicized. The pair were often pictured out in NYC together or attending events

In 1995, Carolyn and John became engaged and secretly tied the knot in a romantic ceremony the following year in September 1996; seen in 1999 in Washington D.C.

Executive producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson told Variety last year that Bessette and Kennedy's story 'really resonates right now. It's amazing'; seen in 1997