Ryan Murphy’s Temu JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Are the Real American Crime Story

From the empty Birkin to the cheap suits, Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon look like impersonators in a low-budget H&M advertisement.

By Audra Heinrichs  |  June 16, 2025 | 10:24am
Photo credit: Ryan Murphy Productions; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Dirt Bag
Ryan Murphy’s Temu JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Are the Real American Crime Story

I’m not one to tell anyone to give up on their dreams, but let me say this: If ever I found myself in a room with Ryan Murphy, I would get on my hands and knees and beg him to leave the entertainment industry. I’m sorry, it’s just that there’s no one more relentless—and if we’re being really honest, delusional—about their fuck-ups in the last decade. The latest? This American Love Story casting.

The latest of Murphy’s productions is an attempt at telling the tale of star-crossed lovers and one of the most iconic (and poorly emulated) couples in American history: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Tasked with the impossible are actors Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon. Elizabeth Debicki was right there!! Anyway.

In May, when the casting announcements were made, I was optimistic. If I squinted an eye and turned in circles a few times, there were some parallels. But as anyone who has seen photos of JFK Jr. and Bessette knows that each one had a je ne sais quoi that simply can’t be matched by just anyone. Don’t believe me? See these photos that were just released over the weekend.

From the empty Birkin to the cheap suits, they look like impersonators in a low-budget H&M advertisement. And the terminally online let it rip. “I’ll never forgive you Ryan Murphy,” one user tweeted alongside two photos of—you guessed it—Debicki looking startlingly like Bessette. “the stiff birkin is what’s killing me the most….no one on set thought it’d be a good idea to stuff it with something?” another wrote.

Even Jack Schlossberg weighed in. Considering that he is JFK Jr.’s nephew, this was the one conversation where I actually will entertain his input. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a castigation, but a call for donations to the Kennedy library…

“HEY RYAN – admiration for John is great but maybe consider DONATING PROFITS TO THE KENNEDY LIBRARY thanks,” Schlossberg commented on Murphy’s Instagram announcement. Murphy replied, writing: “@jackuno I absolutely will.” OK!

I would’ve perhaps suggested Murphy simply kept this idea to himself but hey, who am I?? Certainly not a Kennedy.

David Beckham offered an olive branch on Father’s Day… [Page Six]

Kerry Washington, Carrie Coon, Glenn Close, and Ayo Edebiri were among the celebrities protesting at the No Kings rallies this weekend. [TMZ]

Oh to have an agent instructing me to go on a shopping spree like Aimee Lou Wood‘s… [People]

Matthew McConaughey reuniting with Nik Pizzolatto? I’m already sat. [The Hollywood Reporter]

After three months, the latest Bachelor has broken up with his pick. I’m not naming names because there’s really no point. [Us Weekly]

Four years after Addison Rae approached Donald Trump at a UFC fight, she decried his mass deportation agenda on Instagram: “I’m so disappointed and disturbed by what is happening across our nation. This country could not exist without immigrants.” [Daily Mail]

Will Smith turned down a role in Inception because he “didn’t get it.” [Variety]

Elizabeth Berkley‘s speech at a Showgirls screening for Pride… Who’s cutting onions??? [Just Jared]

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