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@variety · February 3, 2026 · Location: The Standard, High Line

Variety@variety

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After a buzzy January for Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie of “Heated Rivalry,” FX’s “Love Story” is positioning Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as Valentine’s Day’s marquee TV couple. The limited series from Ryan Murphy chronicles the tragic love story of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, who died in a 1999 plane crash. Although FX announced the series in 2021, the network waited to move forward until the completion of the 2024 biography “Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy,” the project’s credited inspiration. “This is a woman that was rendered by a lot of these narratives in a way that felt really unfair and devoid of context, devoid of empathy,” series creator Connor Hines says, noting the series’ goal to reframe Bessette’s story in a new light. Mostly known for being stalked by paparazzi as doggedly as Princess Diana was, Bessette was otherwise a fiercely private figure. That approach hasn’t been without controversy. After photos from the series’ production circulated online last summer, some fans questioned the costumes and overall authenticity. “At a certain point you can’t read what’s online,” Pidgeon said. “But at times, it gave me this fuel to be hyperaware and incredibly conscious. At that point, I understood how important these people and their stories were to me.” The FX series was also made without the involvement of the Kennedy family, sparking a public war of words between Murphy and Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s nephew and a congressional candidate. “First of all, this is a love story,” Kelly explains. “They went through what everyone dreams of — falling in love. But everyone’s entitled to their opinion.” Variety’s Daniel D’Addario calls this love story “captivating,” praising its depiction of “the music, style and culture of the era.” Whether viewers agree will become clear after the series premieres on Feb. 12. Read the full cover story at the link in bio. — Photographer: Richie Shazam @richieshazam Location: @thestandardhighline Pidgeon: Styling: @emmajademorrison Makeup: @shaynagold Hair: @davidvoncannon Kelly: Styling: @warrenalfiebaker Grooming: @jessica_o_

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Sarah Pidgeon@sarah__pidgeonCo-author

paul anthony widziszewski-kelly@ofishalpakCo-author

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@lovesimplykate Random but that white horse reminds me of the white dog statue on Friends

August 17, 2026

@elizabeth__alexandraa_dubai 🥹🫠🤤🤤🤤💞

June 27, 2026

@blissafucantcompare @lilireinhart

June 16, 2026

@paoguti1 ❤️❤️❤️❤️

June 8, 2026

@mahsanaderi662 😍❤️

June 5, 2026

@atkinreport Program note: Jack Schlossberg is the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, not the nephew, as he is the son of JFK's daughter Caroline.

June 4, 2026