Ryan Murphy Defends “American Love Story” Costume Choices Amidst Fan Backlash

Ryan Murphy, the prolific producer behind hits like “Glee” ‌and “American Horror Story,” ‍is speaking out against what he calls “inflammatory” fan reactions to the costume design in his upcoming ‍FX series, “American Love Story,” which focuses⁤ on the life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

Murphy,currently on set for the series,shared his thoughts during a phone interview on Wednesday,expressing his surprise at the intensity of ⁣the criticism. ⁢”It’s very fascinating that people become so inflammatory,” he told variety.

Filming for “American Love Story” commenced in June and is slated to continue through the⁢ fall. The series aims to delve⁤ into the life and style of Bessette-Kennedy,the former magazine editor and wife of John F. Kennedy Jr.

The backlash,Murphy explained,has largely ⁤centered on perceived⁤ inaccuracies in the costumes,particularly regarding specific ⁣designer items. “There were comments like, ‘I ​hate that coat, Carolyn would never have worn that,'” Murphy recounted. “That was just a coat we threw on for color. People were writing, ‘How dare you⁣ use the No. 35 Birkin bag? She wore a 40!’ Yes, we have⁣ a 40 but we just threw on a bag ‍from another costume department because that was the sound ⁣stage we were on.”

Murphy emphasized the dedication of the costume design team, led by​ Lou Eyrich, to capturing Bessette-Kennedy’s iconic style. To address the concerns and showcase the meticulous attention to detail, Murphy plans ‍to release 20 short videos in september, prior to the show’s Valentine’s Day premiere on FX. These⁣ videos will feature ​side-by-side comparisons of Bessette-Kennedy’s actual photographs ‍and Pidgeon in ‌full character, ‍highlighting the faithfulness of the recreations.

The producer drew a parallel between the current online scrutiny and the intense media attention Bessette-Kennedy⁣ faced during her lifetime. ⁢”Bessette-Kennedy’s every move and fashion choice was dissected⁤ ad nauseum,” Murphy stated. “They’re doing to our Carolyn, what they did to the real-life Carolyn. ⁢It’s not fair.”

Carolyn bessette-Kennedy ⁤and John F. Kennedy Jr. tragically died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999.⁢ The accident occurred as ‍JFK Jr. was flying his wife and her sister, Lauren, from New Jersey to Martha’s Vineyard for a family ​wedding.