After Jack Schlossberg said his mother, Caroline Kennedy, “laughed so hard” at Grace Gummer’s portrayal of her in FX’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, the actress said she understands the discomfort of seeing someone’s life onscreen and is
Grace Gummer didn’t dodge the criticism — she met it with restraint, respect, and an offer that says a lot about what she thinks her job is.
In April, Jack Schlossberg discussed Gummer’s performance as Caroline Kennedy on FX’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette during an appearance on the “Next Question with Katie Couric” podcast. He said he showed his mother a clip of the portrayal. describing that “the person was freaking out. ” and then saying his family was “just laughing so hard — as if that’s how my mom acts.”.
Speaking in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gummer addressed the remarks and the discomfort behind them. “I really can’t imagine what it’s like to see your life portrayed onscreen. ” she said. adding that her goal was “to play her with honesty and compassion and delicacy.” She also emphasized her respect for Caroline Kennedy. saying. “I have an immense amount of respect for her.”.
Gummer has not heard directly from the Kennedy family yet, but she is open to listening. She said she “would let [Caroline] speak” if the former diplomat ever wanted to connect.
That approach mirrors what Gummer said earlier, in a March interview with Town & Country. If she ever ran into Caroline Kennedy in person, Gummer said, “I bow to her. I say thank you. I let her speak. I have so much admiration and respect for Caroline, and my greatest hope is that I did right by her.”.
For all the public back-and-forth around the series. Gummer also pushed back on the idea that acting as a public figure is about copying a person. On ABC’s On The Red Carpet. she said she doesn’t believe in “imitating people” and described how she prepared for the Ryan Murphy-produced show. “I just gathered information all over the place. And through reading and talking to people that she knows, I got an energy sense,” she said.
Schlossberg, meanwhile, has been one of the most outspoken critics of the show. During a March appearance on CBS Sunday Morning. he criticized the series for “making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.” He argued that if viewers want to know someone “who’s never met anyone in my family. knows nothing about us. ” they should “talk to Ryan Murphy. ” adding. “The guy knows nothing about what he’s talking about.”.
He also suggested Murphy should donate some of “the millions of dollars of profits” to causes John F. Kennedy Jr. supported or to the JFK Library, saying, “But he’s not. He’s making money. This is not a documentary.”
Even with that sharp criticism in the mix, Gummer’s response stays focused on the same point: she sees Caroline Kennedy as a real person, not a role to be won over.
If Caroline Kennedy ever chooses to respond directly, Gummer says she’ll make space for it.
Grace Gummer Caroline Kennedy Jack Schlossberg FX Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Ryan Murphy The Hollywood Reporter CBS Sunday Morning Katie Couric podcast