First Look at 'American Love Story' Misses the Mark So Far
Early insight to Ryan Murphy's production sparks outrage from Kennedy fans concerning the casting and costume of the elusive CBK.
If you’re on the fashion / culture / Kennedy-enthusiast side of Instagram (which is not as niche as you may think), you’ll likely have seen the social media outrage at the casting and styling of CBK in Ryan Murphy’s new American Love Story.
The first look was released on Saturday and I’ll admit my original excitement. Snapshots of a reprised John, to me, seem careful, familiar, and reverential. I recognised each of the recreated outfits and was impressed by the accuracy of the slightly solemn facial expression, soulful eyes, side profile and thick, dark hair combo for the reenactment.
Paul Kelly, who appears a fresh face & name in the mainstream acting world, seems a thoughtful casting choice and I find his air to be highly reminiscent of the beloved John, at least through the released media so far. Kelly looks capable of achieving the emotional range paramount to playing America’s late Prince, which will require switching between Kennedy’s boyish adventurous streak, his private romantic side, and then to the more serious spheres of pressurised scion, serious attorney, and American emblem.
The challenge and criticalness of achieving this combination seems to have been recognised and firmly understood by Murphy and the rest of the production team. The issue instead lies with this new on-screen reprise of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
Let’s admit that even attempting to in-real-life recreate, never mind narrate, the doomed story of the CBK / JFK Jr. romance and horrific epilogue we all know, was a bold move and a slightly dangerous game. The quest reminds me of The Crown, except with the monarchy-focused series there seemed to be a very hefty commitment (especially in early seasons) to historic accuracy and encapsulating the essence of the royals represented.
To take on universally acknowledged and beloved figures such as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip takes not only a lethal combination of talent and cautiousness but also a certain level of study. In my opinion, the entire team behind these blockbusters need to be rigorously committed to recreating these icons to life, with as little a gap between reality and reenactment as possible. This is something I think a vast majority of The Crown viewers would agree that Matt Smith and Claire Foy impressively achieved this in those delightful first two seasons.
The ‘study’ component of the remaking of CBK in American Love Story, at least in what we have all seen so far, is very much lacking and the remake, even at this early stage, appears upsettingly flawed. I join the flocks of protest against the series’ wardrobe choices of the beloved style maven. The tan coat. The skirt. We’ve all seen them, and grimaced, and ran to the comments on Instagram… and grimaced again.
While the casting of the ‘new’ CBK is not great, and I don’t find that similarity in air that Kelly managed to recreate regarding JFK Jr., the clothing selection and quality is the true failure. I want to note here that I feel bad for the actress, Sarah Pidgeon, because of the volume of negative press on this & the attention being pinpointed on her when she is not the one generating these costumes.
The lesson to be learned from the commotion regarding Murphy’s ALS, I think, are as follows. If you are going to recreate iconic individuals such as members of the Kennedy family, especially a couple such as JFK Jr. and CBK, you must do it right. It must be carried out with exacting precision: not just for the male counterpart (John), the OG Kennedy, Reluctant Prince, “The Hunk Who Flunked” (brutal nickname) but also for his wife.
For someone like Carolyn, vague imitation is not enough. Especially not in 2025, when CBK is as relevant as ever: a cornerstone of the luxurious side of Instagram, a free-spirited ‘90s icon, a mysterious American emblem… the list goes on. There is no excuse for the seeming lack of research on the producers part when there is so much to read and analyse. The empty Birkin and plastic appearing coat, with its nauseating sheen, have a long way to go for the staunchly devoted fans of CBK who demand more “buttery chunks” for Pidgeon’s portrayal. Carolyn’s own colourist, Brad Johns, even weighed on this: stating that the ALS CBK hair is the “totally wrong” shade of blonde.
“Where’s the early ’90s Calvin Klein? The unmistakable silhouette of 1996 Prada? Even a subtle nod to Yohji Yamamoto? These weren’t just fashion choices—they were part of her language. Her era had a voice.” - All For Carolyn
And what do the Kennedys have to say on all of this? Jack Schlossberg, who somehow still remains a follower of the MMTD Instagram, didn’t miss a beat by immediately commenting on Murphy’s post of the first look debut. The nephew of JFK Jr. wrote in his classic blunt and quirky manner: “HEY RYAN — admiration for John is great but maybe consider DONATING PROFITS TO THE KENNEDY LIBRARY thanks.”
To which Paul replied: “I absolutely will.”
Here’s hoping Murphy and the ALS team keep an open mind to the many suggestions for improvement being tossed to them. One can only hope the recreation of CBK grows in respectful and thoughtful execution.
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Live Beautifully,
MMTD Founder & Editor