Fact check — Episode 2 of Love Story: Did Jackie O. hate Daryl Hannah?
The limited series premiered Thursday, Feb. 12 (ET), and Episode 2 leans into a charged moment between John F. Kennedy Jr. 's circle and his then-romance with actress Daryl Hannah. The show stages an awkward dinner and an on-the-street confrontation that imply Jackie O. disapproved of Hannah. Contemporary accounts and biographies offer a more nuanced picture.
How the episode frames the tension
The second installment compresses several moments to heighten drama. A tabloid image of John and his famous ex sparks hurt for Carolyn Bessette, while John attempts to smooth things over with flowers. Later, Hannah arrives to join a family dinner at Jackie’s apartment, but staff inform the group the former first lady will dine in her room because she’s not feeling well. Hannah storms out, convinced of personal disapproval, and confronts John on the street with a pointed line: "Have you ever asked yourself why your mother doesn’t like me?" The series' creative team has acknowledged that the real-life romance featured more on-again, off-again moments than the show dramatizes, and that choices were made to move the narrative forward.
What historical accounts actually show
Several biographical sources place the on-screen exchange in context. A horse-riding accident in November 1993 left Jackie injured after a fall while fox hunting. One memoir recounts a friend’s description of the fall: "He was trying to avoid the fallen stones, I guess. He basically landed on his nose, and she catapulted right over his head. " Not long after that episode, Jackie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; she died on May 19, 1994, at age 64.
As for Jackie’s attitude toward Hannah, contemporaneous recollections suggest caution rather than personal animus. In an oral biography assembled from interviews, a longtime friend recalled that Jackie "was not a fan of that relationship, " and clarified: "It wasn't like she hated Daryl at all, she just didn't want her son marrying an actress − it kind of was that simple. There was no great animosity, but she was always talking about 'What do you think of Daryl? Do you think that's right for John?'">
That wording captures the common strand in historical accounts: concern focused on compatibility and public life, not on personal hatred. The show dramatizes the tension and leans into theatrical moments that make for compelling television, but those choices compress and simplify the real interpersonal texture.
Bottom line for viewers
The episode dramatizes a believable emotional beat — a mother questioning a high-profile relationship — but primary accounts point to wary disapproval rather than outright hatred. Viewers should expect more dramatized confrontations as the series condenses on-again, off-again elements of the real romance to keep the story moving. New episodes arrive weekly on Thursdays at 9 PM ET.
