ShowrunnerRyan Murphyis matched by few when it comes to shaping the modern landscape of TV with many hit, and often boundary-pushing, series under his belt. From the provocativeAmerican Horror Storyto therevolutionary LGBTQ+ seriesGlee, and recent releases likeMonster(which explored the infamous stories of Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers), Murphy is certainly comfortable tackling a wide range of subjects and genres, and is not one to shy away from controversy. Yet, his most recent project, an FX serieschronicling the tragic romancebetween Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr., is already facing controversy despite the series not being set to release until Valentine’s Day 2026.
American Love Storyis certainly getting some early publicity, but it may not be for the best reasons. Here is why some are already speaking out against the production.
‘American Love Story’ Is Being Eaten Alive for Its Fashion Choices
The crux of the controversy boils down to early promotional shots of the series showing off the fashion of Sarah Pidgeon, who is stepping into the shoes of late fashionista and PR executive Carolyn Bessette. While fashion may seem like a minor issue to those not attuned to the industry, Bessette would come to define 1990s American fashion, and her minimalist, finely curated fashion remains influential to this day. For this reason, various fashion magazines were quick to critique the choices for Pidgeon in both early behind-the-scenes photos and promotional material, with many comparing them to quick, off-the-rack fashion found everywhere, which did not suit Besette’s legacy as a fashion icon. In their eyes,a figure immersed in the fashion worldshould be presented as close as possible to their legacy.
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Other choices that have been brought up in early images include Converse and faux leather coats, which are seen as far from the type of style that Bessette represented.Not evenSarah Pidgeon’s hair has been spared the scorn of some in the fashion industry, with Brad Johns, Besette’s colorist in the ’90s,speaking with Vogueabout the images. “No one would believe that Carolyn in the ’90s would ever have that color from me,” said Johns of Pidgeon’s hair color. “It’s too 2024.” Johns went on to exclaim, “When she sees that color, she’s going to be swirling in heaven.”
Ryan Murphy’s Response to Backlash About Fashion in ‘American Love Story’
Ryan Murphy, never one to roll over when criticism comes his way, has been outspoken about the recent backlash againstAmerican Love Story. Notably, the showrunner was quick topoint out to Varietythat the critique of Pidgeon’s looks was treading familiar ground, stating, “They’re doing to our Carolyn what they did to the real-life Carolyn. It’s not fair.” This quip refers to Bessette’s desperate desire for privacy in the face of constant social hounding by paparazzi, which only escalated after her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr. In the same interview, Murphy addressed other issues more directly and noted that he had hired a 10-person “style advisory board” for the production to ensure accuracy.
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Ultimately, a critique of early behind-the-scenes images and promotional material will be far from what audiences and critics will see on the screen, and the final vision will likely be much different from early glimpses. Until the series is released, this “outrage"from the fashion industrydoes not hold much weight. As always, Ryan Murphy has taken the criticism in stride, as this certainly won’t be the last time. Regardless,fans and fashionistas will have to tune in and watchAmerican Love Storyon FX in February 2026 to determine for themselves if the fashion on screen lives up to the legacy of Carolyn Bessette.
