Hollywood superproducer Ryan Murphy has been called “insensitive” for not postponing Kennedy’s new drama in the wake of Tatiana Schlossberg’s death, sources tell Page Six.
“American Love Story,” which focuses on the marriage and tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, is scheduled to debut on FX and Hulu next month, just weeks after JFK Jr.’s niece Tatiana, 35, died from leukemia on Dec. 30.
A source familiar with the Kennedy family told Page Six that the prospect of playing Caroline Kennedy, Tatiana’s mother and JFK Jr.’s only sibling, in the drama is “insensitive…This is a very sad time for Caroline and for the entire family.”
Some members of the family “were expecting the show to be postponed, but there has been no mention of that,” the source said, adding that Caroline, 68, was too dignified to even consider approaching producers.
FX representatives could not be reached for comment.
Tatiana’s brother, Jack Schlossberg, has been one of the project’s biggest critics, having previously accused Murphy of creating a show about his late uncle without consulting the Kennedy family.
Schlossberg, who is running for U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 12th District, posted on Instagram in June: “For those wondering if his family has been consulted or has anything to do with the new show being made about him, the answer is no.” “Just to be clear, I think admiration for Uncle John is great. What I don’t think is great is profiting from it in a grotesque way.”
Beller’s publisher confirmed that Murphy had purchased the rights to Elizabeth Beller’s book “Once Upon a Time: The Fascinating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy” for use as material in the show.
Mr. Schlossberg also criticized Mr. Murphy for not setting aside profits from the show for the Kennedy Library.
JFK Jr. and his wife died in a plane crash in July 1999, along with Carolyn’s sister Lauren Bessette.
After Schlossberg aired his frustration on social media, Murphy responded on “This Is Gavin Newsom Podcast,” saying, “I thought it was a strange choice to be angry about a relative you don’t really remember.”
Schlossberg, who was 6 years old when her uncle died, retorted, “My earliest memories are of John calling me jack-o-lantern and ‘nudist’ and picking me up from school in his Pontiac convertible. I remember being the ring bearer at his wedding and the day he died. I remember Wyclef singing at his funeral.”
It also claimed that Murphy “made millions of dollars” on JFK Jr.’s life without contributing “any of your wealth to the causes he championed or the legacy of public service he represented.”
Paul Anthony Kelly’s only appearance was in the 2010 television series Body Language, in which he played JFK Jr., with Sarah Pidgeon playing Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Naomi Watts plays Jackie Kennedy and Grace Gummer plays Caroline Kennedy.
Tatiana, who wrote an essay about her illness that was published in The New Yorker in November, left behind her three-year-old son Edwin and one-year-old daughter Josephine with her husband George Moran.
Tatiana’s funeral on Monday was attended by the Kennedy family, former President Joe Biden and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
