‘American Love Story' star Sarah Pidgeon reacts to backlash of her portrayal of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
The actress, 29, is set to play the late fashion publicist in Ryan Murphy's series 'American Love Story.' The show will follow the relationship between Carolyn and John F. Kennedy Jr.
Last month, the creator, 59, shared pictures to Instagram of Pidgeon as Carolyn and Paul Kelly as JFK Jr.
Advertisement
8 John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy attend the 'Brite Nite Whitney' gala on March 9, 1999.
Getty Images
'FIRST LOOK! 📸 Here are some stills from our LOVE STORY camera test,' the caption read. 'We started shooting this week in New York City and can't wait until you see the romantic and tragic love story between America's prince, JFK Jr., and fashion icon Carolyn Bessette—out Valentine's Day week of 2026.'
Murphy 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!'
Advertisement
However, some critics were disappointed in their transformations — including Pidgeon's hair color.
8 John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
On Monday, the star addressed the backlash.
'I know how special Carolyn is to me and I understand how widely beloved she is, so this role comes with a lot of responsibility,' Pidgeon told Variety while at the LA premiere of 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.'
Advertisement
'And I'm not surprised that people have strong opinions about it.'
'That's what makes her such an interesting person,' she confessed. 'I mean, not only how she dressed, but the woman who worked at Calvin Klein and the person that JFK Jr. fell in love with. She's a human being beyond just these pictures. She really resonates with a lot of people, and she certainly does with me.'
8 John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy arrive at the annual John F. Kennedy Library Foundation dinner.
Getty Images
Despite the outside chatter, portraying Bessette-Kennedy has been a 'fulfilling and incredibly special' experience for Pidgeon.
Advertisement
'I think that she is an incredibly generous person and she's incredibly confident,' she added. 'I don't know if I necessarily always carry myself in that way, but it's been really empowering to channel those elements of Carolyn. I could talk for a while about everything there is about her. It's been really, really fulfilling and incredibly special to do it on camera.'
While on the carpet, Pidgeon also touched on joining Murphy's TV universe.
8 John F. Kennedy, Jr. gives his wife Carolyn a kiss on the cheek during the annual White House Correspondents dinner on May 1, 1999.
Getty Images
'I just feel very, very honored,' she gushed to E! News. 'Not only to be a part of that production company, but to be playing such an incredible woman. It's a real gift and responsibility. It's definitely a pinch-me moment. But I feel very, very grateful.'
In June, Bessette-Kennedy's hair colorist, Brad Johns, weighed in on the criticism over Pidgeon's hair color in the pictures.
'No one would believe that Carolyn in the '90s would ever have that color from me,' he told Vogue. 'It's too 2024.'
8 Sarah Pidgeon, Paul Anthony Kelly film 'American Love Story.'
SteveSands/NewYorkNewswire/MEGA
The New Yorker, meanwhile, was a natural brunette.
Advertisement
Johns started working with Bessette-Kennedy in 1996 and referred to her color as his 'child-of-the-beach' hue.
The expert recalled to the outlet that it was something 'we worked really hard to get right.'
Johns also spoke to Page Six Style about the upcoming project.
8 Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon on the set of Ryan Murphy's 'American Love Story' in Manhattan on June 18, 2025.
GC Images
Advertisement
'I love Ryan Murphy. I mean, I live for him,' the colorist stated. 'But there must be some kind of glitch with the costume people or the hair people, because it's not right — it's all white and burnt.'
'Her hair was not white and it wasn't burnt, and she hated the idea of having ashy hair — which I was totally against, too, and I never did it. But when I saw [the first look], I went, 'Oh my God, what am I gonna do?'' Johns continued. 'Carolyn's hair was darker at the bottom, the mid was medium blond and the front was all brilliant gold pieces.'
8 Paul Kelly recreates the 1996 picture of JFK Jr. on the cover of People Magazine.
Steve Sands / BACKGRID
'Gold makes women look beautiful. Ash makes you look dead, unless you're wearing a ton of makeup, and who wears a ton of makeup? It's just wrong. Everything.'
Advertisement
Murphy also addressed the critics in an interview with Puck's Lauren Sherman. He explained the test shots were not final looks.
'I had no idea that people cared as much as they do, but I guess that's a good thing,' he admitted.
8 Sarah Pidgeon films a fake paparazzi scene Tribeca.
RCF / MEGA
Along with Pidgeon and Kelly, Naomi Watts is set to play Jackie Kennedy.
Advertisement
The late couple first met in 1992 when she was working for Calvin Klein. At the time, she was tasked with giving him a private tour and fitting.
The pair dated for two years before tying the knot in September 1996 in a private ceremony on Cumberland Island, Georgia.
The couple died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999, along with her sister Lauren Bessette. Tragedy struck when they were flying from New Jersey to Martha's Vineyard.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
7 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘I've failed you': S.F. chef apologizes after viral clash with influencer
The San Francisco chef at the center of a viral social media controversy issued a public apology Sunday for a recent incident involving a TikTok influencer. Meanwhile, the restaurant in the dustup, Kis Cafe in Hayes Valley, announced its last night of service was Saturday and that it is now permanently closed, according to its Instagram account. Luke Sung was ousted as chef and co-owner of Kis Cafe last week after he drew widespread online condemnation for his treatment of a food influencer identified as @ItsKarlaBB. The incident is the latest to highlight the fraught relationship between restaurants and influencers, who can help promote them — or, in this case, close them. 'Hi everyone — I am Luke Sung,' began the apology posted to Kis Cafe's Instagram page. 'It was important for me to first apologize to Karla privately and step away from Kis Cafe before publicly apologizing.' Sung acknowledged being 'condescending, hurtful, and intimidating' to the influencer during her visit for a planned promotional dinner. @itskarlabb its a long video and not something i would normally upload but i feel like i had to talk about this experience. i basically ran out of there but i wish i would've stood up for myself. if you are a micro influencer i know it's easy to feel discouraged at times but don't let anyone make you feel small or unimportant!! ♬ original sound - itskarlabb Her emotional account of the encounter — shared Wednesday in a TikTok video that has since amassed over 20 million views — accused Sung of belittling her content and follower count, which stood at 15,000 at the time. That number has since surged past 350,000. According to the influencer, after briefly glancing through her TikTok profile, the chef dismissed her work. 'After scrolling, like, two times, he says to me that he doesn't think my videos are at the level at which he wants his restaurant represented,' she said in her video. He then criticized her audience, she said. 'He goes on to say that my audience and my followers are not the kind of people that are going to be at his restaurant,' she said. 'It seemed like he was insinuating that my followers would not be able to afford to eat at this restaurant.' The encounter escalated further when Sung asked if she knew who he was. She said she didn't. 'He says he's a James Beard Award recipient or finalist or something, and I'm like 'great, like, I don't know what to say to that,'' she said. Sung reportedly followed by citing his daughter's online presence, telling the influencer that she wasn't on the same level as his daughter, Isabelle 'Isa' Sung, who he said had 600,000 TikTok followers. 'I told him I felt disrespected and didn't want to collaborate anymore,' she said in her video. In his apology, Luke Sung stated, 'There are no excuses to be made. I've decided it's time for me to step away from Kis Cafe permanently and in all capacities.' The fallout has been swift. Kis Cafe, which opened in May, initially apologized on Thursday and confirmed Sung was no longer affiliated in 'any way.' 'I also want to be clear the responsibility of this whole situation is mine alone and my behavior should not be a reflection on anyone else who works there, or anyone who is related to me,' Sung wrote. 'I truly care about my staff and am devastated that my actions have impacted both them and their families.' Yelp and Google reviews of both Kis Cafe and Sung's former restaurant Isa, in the Marina District, have been inundated with one-star ratings. Sung also addressed his staff and family, notably his daughter. 'I am sorry I put you in this position,' he wrote. 'I've failed you in the worst way.'
Motor 1
40 minutes ago
- Motor 1
‘I Charge Them More Every Single Time:' Tech Reveals 1 Quality Guaranteed to Make Your Mechanic Hate You
A mechanic who goes by Claw Boss (@reelclawboss) on Instagram shared a customer pet peeve: Asking non-stop questions while he works. And it seems like there are more than a few other folks in the craft who share his mindset. The auto tech's short clip is set to the tune of a song that repeatedly implores a person to 'shut the [expletive] up,' as part of its hook. Pairing this tune with the text overlay in their clip, along with a group of dancing chickens, intones that the service tech isn't a fan of this particular client interaction. 'We all have that one customer. Stands in the shop while you're working on their car and won't stop asking questions,' he captions Commenters Were Divided Folks had differing opinions on the clients they render service to in their respective auto businesses. One person remarked that a patron has the right to ask questions since they're the one paying for their car to be fixed. 'Customer's car, customer's paying,' one said. However, there was another Instagram user who seemed to concur with Claw Boss's commentary on the chatty individuals who roll into his shop. They said, 'Best part of our shop: Only staff allowed in shop.' Another person, who said that they were an auto tech themselves, echoed the aforementioned sentiment. According to them, they've never been employed in an automotive service center that allowed customers to watch the work techs were doing. 'Never in my life have I seen a shop allow customers in the shop,' they penned. 'I be on the other side of the glass like *hey, did you make sure to torq that bolt!? While I smoke my dart and continue to stare. Lol all jokes aside I do enjoy watching and learning.' But this didn't appear to be par the course for all folks getting their cars fixed. One person who got their vehicle's air conditioning system repaired expressed that they were grateful to watch their mechanic fix the issue. Moreover, they said the tech was forthcoming about the work he was completing. 'My mechanic let me watch him do my AC for my truck. I asked a few questions and he didn't mind. He seemed to like that I was trying to learn,' they said. Other Mechanics Sound Off It seems like Claw Boss wasn't the only service tech who took to social media to decry this specific customer behavior. YouTuber Barricade Garage also professed he wasn't too fond of someone looking over his shoulder while he was working on a car. In a caption for his video that touches on this same topic, he writes, 'most mechanics usually want to be left unbothered when working on your vehicle.' Additionally, Redditors in this r/MechanicAdvice post also discussed this same client phenomenon. The thread's original poster wanted to know if it was considered poor manners on his part to watch the tech replace the tires on his vehicle. One person remarked that the practice is 'a touchy subject with a lot of shops,' due to how different customers react to the work being performed on their vehicle. They said that customers might try to nickel-and-dime labor time, not considering that a mechanic who has accrued decades of experiencing fixing problems is able to rectify a problem more quickly than a less experienced tech. Thus, their complaints about inaccurate labor times are invalidated. To drive this point home, they shared an anecdote about a client who went 'ballistic' for being billed for 30 minutes of labor on a muffler replacement. They said the tech swapped out the component in around five minutes and asked why they were charged for 30 minutes of labor instead. Following this, the Reddit user explained to the customer, 'The guy who just put your muffler on has almost 30 years' exhaust experience. And has it down to an art. If I'd known you wanted to wait longer I would have done it myself - I'm a diagnostic tech and really bad at exhaust. It takes me forever,' they wrote. Some Mechanics Don't Mind Watchful Customers Another commenter in the same Reddit thread said it all boils down to the type of person who is watching them perform their work. This user said, 'I don't mind people watching because they are curious.' Although, when they begin to chime in with their own repair strategies, or when they reference other handy people they know, that's when they begin to take issue with sideline commentary. 'Don't call me a liar, and don't bring it to me to fix it if you trust [someone else] so much,' they penned. In this Quora post, some auto techs argued that barring customers from entering the shop area boils down to potential safety concerns. They said that due to heavy machinery, car lifts, and an array of moving parts, clients could be at risk of bodily harm. In order to mitigate these possible incidents from occurring and any legal actions that could be levied against the shop, many service centers will bar folks from watching their cars being worked on. Motor1 has reached out to the Claw Boss via Instagram direct message for further comment. Now Trending 'That's Exactly Why:' Florida Driver Gets Stuck Behind Toyota That Won't Turn on Green Light. She Says It's an Insurance Scam 'Don't Feel Comfortable Allowing You:' Colorado Woman Tells Discount Tire She Can't Afford Tires. Their Reply Is Shocking Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lele Pons Gives Birth to Baby No. 1 With Husband Guaynaa
Lele Pons and husband Guaynaa are officially a family of three. In a joint Instagram post shared on Sunday, July 27, the couple uploaded an image of them holding onto the newborn's foot. In another pic, Guaynaa and Pons held hands as the little one wrapped her fingers around her dad's thumb. 'Eloísa 💕 July 26, 2025,' the caption read. The former Dancing With the Stars contestant and Guaynaa (real name: Jean Carlos Santiago Pérez) announced in March that they were expecting their first child together. Dancing With The Stars' Lele Pons Falls Over Twice During Baby's Sex Reveal Announcement 'We're PREGNANT!!!!! 🤰🏼❤️🥹 ,' the pair wrote in an Instagram post at the time, unveiling Pons' growing baby bump. 'Can't wait to meet you! We love you — Mom & Dad.' Pons went on to unveil the news to a group of Dancing With the Stars pros, including Gleb Savchenko, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Jenna Johnson and Rylee Arnold. In a TikTok video shared at the time, Pons FaceTimed them and was all smiles as she debuted her baby bump. 'Telling my Dancing With the Stars family I'm pregnant,' Pons captioned the post, to which Johnson commented with a heart emoji, 'Soooo happy for you mama.' The next month, Pons and Guaynaa recorded themselves finding out the sex of their baby in a since-deleted video. After having loved ones stand on stage depending on whether they thought the pair was expecting a boy or a girl, the twosome — who were placed in front of a fake 'TNT' buzzer — pressed the button as pink slime poured down from the ceiling. Witney Carson's Family Album With Husband Carson McAllister and Son Leo: Pics In the footage, Pons slipped on the slime and hit the ground twice before her friends and family helped her up. Pons and Guaynaa first crossed paths while working together on the music video 'Se Te Nota' in September 2020. The couple went Instagram official in December 2020, sharing PDA-filled photos from a skip trip. 'MINE ❤️ (it's official),' Pons captioned the post at the time. The pair tied the knot in March 2023 at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami. Paris Hilton, Camila Cabello and Diplo reportedly attended the nuptials. Pons rose to fame on Vine, before transitioning to YouTube in 2016. Pons, who has amassed more than 18 million followers on the platform, has since starred in a 2020 docuseries The Secret Life of Lele Pons, 2023's Dancing With the Stars season 32 and season nine of The Masked Singer — where she was ultimately unveiled as The Jackalope. Solve the daily Crossword
