Friends of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are speaking out after a new article reignited scrutiny of her life and character. The piece, published by DailyMail.com and written by Maureen Callahan, portrays the late fashion publicist as a violent and deeply troubled woman. Callahan is the author of a best-selling book about the Kennedy family and hosts The Nerve podcast.
The article follows the release of the hit television series *Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette*, which depicts Carolyn as a fairy-tale American princess. Callahan’s reporting challenges that image, pointing to a specific incident as evidence of her true personality.
In the article, Callahan describes a heated argument between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn in a New York City park. She claims the fight reveals who Carolyn really was. When pressed on the account, Callahan stood by her reporting. She said she received the story from friends of Carolyn who worked with her at Calvin Klein. According to Callahan, those colleagues witnessed the fight and remarked, "Congratulations, John. You've finally met the real Carolyn."
Now, people who knew Carolyn personally are pushing back against the narrative. Teresa De Maria worked alongside Carolyn at Calvin Klein in the early 1990s. Rare video shows Carolyn photographing models during that time. De Maria remembered her fondly, saying, "She had something special about her. It was just her aura."
When asked about reports that Carolyn was a heavy partier, De Maria dismissed the characterization as a product of the era. "We all liked to party in the '90s," she said. "It was just the scene."
Guy Clark, who became friends with Carolyn while working at Cartier, also defended her. He said he spent a lot of quality time with her alone and never saw any sign of drug use. "I never saw a drug. I never saw any of that," he said.
Clark shared a story that highlights Carolyn’s kindness. After his sister died, Carolyn bought Cartier earrings for his mother. She dropped them off with a doorman and left a message: "These are for Guy's mother because she just lost a child, and nobody should lose a child." Clark said his mother, now 102, has worn those earrings ever since.
The friends’ accounts offer a more nuanced portrait of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, one that contrasts sharply with the claims in the recent article. While they acknowledge she could be difficult and complicated, they reject the idea that she was defined by violence or instability.