Ryan Murphy Recreates JFK Jr.'s Iconic 1990 PEOPLE Magazine Cover for New Series American Love Story

Published: June 17, 2025

Ryan Murphy is taking a step back in time to recreate the iconic 1990 PEOPLE magazine cover featuring John F. Kennedy Jr. for his upcoming series, American Love Story. The series, which focuses on the real-life love story between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, has recreated the cover photo nearly to perfection, with some minor differences that have sparked curiosity about the series' approach to his love life.

The original cover, captioned "You Can Do It, John!", poked fun at the first son two years after he was named PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive, remarking, "So what if he flubbed the bar exam (twice). America's uncrowned prince is facing 30 with a steady girlfriend, fabulous looks, even a movie role. But now it's time to hit those law books!"

After completing his undergraduate at Brown University, studying abroad at the University of Delhi, and earning his law degree from New York University, JFK Jr. did, in fact, pass the bar on his third attempt — in July 1990. This made him eligible to serve as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA's Office, which he did for the next four years.

American Love Story's recreation of the cover is spot-on, with Paul Kelly in the same blue dress shirt and tan blazer. The caption is also the same, word for word. There are two main differences, however — and one may be central to Love Story's plot.

The minor difference is the other story featured on the cover. In real-life, JFK Jr.'s leading story was accompanied by a smaller photo of Kathie Lee Gifford, and her newborn son, Cody, teasing an "at-home" interview with the daytime host. In Love Story's recreation, the smaller featurette is about Beverly Hills 90210 star Jennie Garth "finding love."

The second difference, however, is more notable. While Kennedy's real-life cover story was published on May 21, 1990, Love Story's recreation lists its date as May 11, 1992.

The real PEOPLE article references a date between JFK. Jr and his "longtime girlfriend, actress Christina Haag." However, by 1992, the national heartthrob was actually in an on-again, off-again relationship with Daryl Hannah, before they broke up for good in 1994.

Viewers will have to wait and see how Love Story handles Kennedy's real-life romantic timeline. Either way, they've tacked two more years onto his bar exam journey.

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