10 Things Love Story Gets RIGHT & WRONG About JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

Hi. I'm here to see Carolyn Bessette. If you could just point me in her general direction. Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at what's fact and fiction in Love Story, John F. Kennedy Jr., and Carolyn Bessette. You can be coy with the press all you want, but if I'm gonna marry you, I want the truth. Kennedy met Bessette through Calvin Klein. Maybe. You're gonna thank me for this. In the show's pilot episode, Carolyn Bessette's boss, fashion designer Calvin Klein, introduces her to John F. Kennedy Jr. at a New York gala. There are some varying accounts on how exactly Kennedy and Bessette met, however. Some suggest that Kennedy first encountered Bessette during a fitting at Calvin Klein, asking for her number and arranging a date shortly after. You're the tailor, too? He's on his lunch break. Typically, our clients make appointments. I'm a 33 waist, I know that. You're 32. Yet, it's also been claimed that they first crossed paths at a naked angels party. According to one anecdote, Kennedy initially spotted Bessette running through Central Park, becoming immediately infatuated. Now, his friend Billy Way introduced them. I don't know. I try to stay away from it in my book because everybody I talked to had a different story. The most widely accepted version seems to be that Bessette met Kennedy through her job. While the specifics are hard to pin down, chances are that Bessette wouldn't have known Kennedy without Klein. What's going on? John F. Kennedy Jr. was just here. What? No one tells me. Oh no, he came to see Carolyn. Complications with George Magazine, right. I genuinely believe that with the right marketing, we can get people as engaged with politics as they are pop culture or the NFL. Long before Washington, D.C. basically became its own reality show, JFK Jr. aimed to bridge pop culture and politics with a magazine titled George. Kennedy and his business partner, Michael J. Berman, launched George in September 1995, with Cindy Crawford scantily dressed as the first president on the cover. Bessette wasn't at the launch, most likely because rumors surrounding their engagement would prove distracting. A statement was even issued denying the engagement. I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt you. But you understand, right? Sounds like you don't have a choice. After the launch, tensions between Kennedy and Berman continued to escalate. Their mutual animosity reportedly turned physical at the workplace, resulting in Berman's clothing being ripped and Kennedy changing his locks. Berman eventually sold his share as the magazine continued to decline, but Kennedy's death marked the company's true downfall. When you learned that George was going to cease operations, what went through your mind? It brought back a lot of memories, a lot of difficult memories. In a little way, it was like reliving that death that weekend when John died. The Kennedys hated Daryl Hannah. Wrong. I see you're eating meat again. Well, I never swore off meat, mother. I was experimenting with a vegetarian diet because Daryl made a very valid case for it. Well, either way, it wasn't sustainable. My relationship or my diet? Before Bessette, Kennedy had a few high-profile relationships, including a reported fling with Madonna. Kennedy notably dated actress Daryl Hannah, who claims that her portrayal in the series is inaccurate. Love Story contains some true elements concerning their relationship, including Kennedy having Hannah's dog cremated following an accident on his watch. However, it's implied that the Kennedy family widely detested Hannah, especially Jackie. Your mother isn't feeling well. She'll be taking dinner in her room, but she sends her regrets. While there were rumors that Jacqueline Kennedy didn't approve of the relationship, this was likely because she didn't want her son dating an actress. There's no record suggesting that the former first lady disliked Hannah to the extent depicted in the series. The same goes for the rest of the Kennedys. In fact, Douglas Kennedy thought Hannah was, quote, very sweet. I just didn't know if maybe your mom and sister were there and that's why you didn't invite me. You have to stop with this narrative that you're like persona non grata, okay? It's not true. Bessette's reaction to Diana's death. Right. Hello? What happened? While JFK Jr. had a restrained reaction to Princess Diana's death in 1997, Bessette was left visibly shaken for several reasons. The two had encountered each other barely a month earlier at Gianni Versace's funeral. I just saw her. What? At Gianni's funeral. I sat right behind her. Although it's unclear if the two formally met, Bessette noticed more than a few parallels between the Princess of Wales and herself. Like Diana, Bessette was a private citizen whose life was forever changed when she became romantically involved with the member of a famous political family. Many blamed the paparazzi for Diana's premature death, which horrified Bessette, who similarly felt harassed by the cameras her newfound fame brought. They killed her. She did everything right, posed for every photo, gave them everything they wanted, and they still killed her. Bessette would tragically share more in common with Diana than she could have imagined, both dying prematurely in freak accidents. Caroline was Caroline's maid of honor. Wrong. We don't want to have a state dinner. I think what John means- I know what he means. He doesn't want a Kennedy wedding. That's what he means. We do. We absolutely do. We just want an intimate Kennedy wedding. Intimate, I see. With John's sister Caroline appearing left out of the wedding planning, Caroline considers making her future sister-in-law her maid of honor. This news comes as a blow to Caroline's sister Lauren, who argues that Caroline won't care. Lauren, this will mean nothing to her, and it would have meant everything to me. Caroline comes off as surprised yet touched when Caroline makes the offer, easing tensions between them. Reports suggest, however, that Lauren was her younger sister's maid of honor, while Caroline would be a matron of honor. The idea of making Caroline her maid of honor was floated, but it apparently wasn't Caroline's idea. Following the incident at the park and protests from his sister, John thought the best way to smooth things over would be if Caroline asked Caroline to fill the maid of honor duties. What? What's so funny? Nothing, I just, uh, I think I might be starting to like her. The anonymous note about Bessette. Right. While playing touch football, Kennedy comes across an anonymous letter concerning Bessette, suggesting that she's a gold digger, among other nasty accusations. Bessette is appalled that Kennedy would take such a note seriously, straining their relationship. This is how strong it is for you. Someone writes these terrible things about me, and some friend of yours shoves it in your bag. Suddenly everything between us just disappears. Circumstances surrounding the letter are different, as Kennedy found it earlier in their courtship. This led to an extended breakup before reconciling about a year later. That said, Kennedy did receive an unflattering letter about Bessette's alleged partying, dating history, and aspirations to land someone famous. Shady friends that you've got, things like, like you were trying to meet me, that you were fixated on me, that you were asking everybody about me. The identity of who wrote the letter also remains a mystery to the public, although it's believed to be one of Kennedy's friends. Bessette supposedly learned who it was down the line, pushing them out of their lives. Everything for me right now, it's all question marks, except for you. You, this, this is where I begin, if you let me. The night before the wedding. Wrong. Bessette and Kennedy would be married at a small private ceremony with about 40 guests, as Love Story depicts. Some liberties are taken with the night before, though. How is she going to navigate all of this? John's life was just so big, and I worried, how could Carolyn, how could anyone manage to maintain their own center of gravity around something that massive? Bessette's mother, Ann Messina Freeman, is depicted giving an uncomfortable toast at the rehearsal dinner, expressing fear that her daughter won't be able to handle Kennedy's complicated life. While Freeman did reportedly express concerns about the relationship, her exact words at the rehearsal dinner haven't been disclosed. I just hope that when you are faced with it all, you don't choose to sit where you are expected or wanted, but where you are needed. That is something that I pray she can count on. Sorry. After the dinner scene, Kennedy and Bessette spent the night on the beach, going skinny dipping the next morning ahead of their nuptials. This never happened, as the bride reportedly went to bed early the night before she officially became a member of the Kennedy family. How you changed my life in a way that I never thought was possible. Bessette had to think about Kennedy's proposal. Right. The thing about fishing is, it's always so much better with a partner. What? Kennedy did propose to Bessette over the 4th of July weekend at Martha's Vineyard while on a boat. One difference is that Kennedy had a replica of his mother's swimming ring, rather than proposing to Bessette with the original, as the series implies. Beyond that detail, the proposal played out pretty much as seen on screen. Kennedy reportedly told Bessette, quote, When you go fishing, it's always better with a partner, echoing his words in Love Story. Contrary to accusations that she was only after Kennedy's fame and fortune, Bessette didn't accept his proposal on the spot. There's a lot of big stuff we have to talk about before we can get married. Like how our lives really fit together. She didn't outright reject him, although Bessette needed time to think about it. About three weeks went by with Kennedy supposedly growing anxious, but Bessette ultimately accepted. Yes, I'll marry you and I'll take the risk with you. We can drive each other crazy for so long and we both shall live, yes. What the park fight was about, wrong. Carolyn, come on. Do not grab me. What am I supposed to do? You're running away from me. In February 1996, Kennedy and Bessette got into a tense public argument at a New York park, which the press had a field day with. Love Story gets several details about this confrontation right, including the couple's wardrobes, Kennedy allegedly removing Bessette's ring from her finger, and the aftermath. The nature of their spat is largely dramatized though. Do you know how lucky you are? You should be grateful. Why? Because everyone in the world wants to marry you? No, because you're a crazy complicated person and a pain in the ass and I still love you. And you're easy? Love Story implies that they butted heads over Bessette's hesitance to accept his proposal, Kennedy's insensitivity, and other relationship issues. While we may never know the precise words exchanged, friends have suggested that it was because Bessette accused Kennedy of letting people walk all over him. In the show, Bessette accepts Kennedy's proposal shortly after the fight, when in reality, she'd already agreed. Fishing partners. I thought that you didn't say yes because you were waiting for a more eloquent proposal. No, I liked what you said. Before we continue, check out this single from Sound Mojo's audio, Songs from Iran, reimagining Persian melodies as modern rock, metal, and pop songs. Check out the full track and album below. Kennedy and Bessette were at odds before the plane crash. Right. What happened? You were supposed to leave an hour ago. It's a summer Friday, the tunnel was a parking lot. You haven't been on time a day in your life, but when an inconvenience is you. Just saying, we're going to miss the welcome drinks. My family's going to throw a hissy fit. Well, they're going to find a reason to throw one no matter what. So if you want to go there, then by all means. Okay, we both agreed to give each other the benefit of the doubt. Love Story opens with John preparing to fly Carolyn and Lauren, despite his foot injury and the absence of a flight instructor. Although their marriage is on the rocks, Kennedy and Bessette seemed committed to working through their differences. This essentially captures the state of their relationship before that fateful day. As one source put it, quote, his heart was breaking, and I think hers was too. Although disconnected, there was a chance of reconciliation. I forgot about that, um, Rory's, Rory's wedding. Don't even worry about it. Carolyn's not even going. No, I want to go. You do? Yeah. I miss dancing with you. Perhaps Bessette's change of heart about accompanying Kennedy to his cousin Rory's wedding could have been a turning point. Tragically, it was the end. Carolyn was most likely seated in the back row with Lauren rather than alongside John in the cockpit. In any case, the three never reached their final destinations. What is it? What's wrong? It's your brother, ma'am. His plane has been reported missing. What do you think of Love Story? Let us know in the comments.