Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, has publicly criticized Ryan Murphy's upcoming series about JFK Jr., calling the project 'grotesque' and noting it was produced entirely without Kennedy family involvement or approval.

This is familiar territory for Murphy, whose recent projects have increasingly drawn criticism for exploiting real-life tragedies without meaningful input from the people most affected. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story became Netflix's second-most-watched series ever while victims' families complained they were never consulted. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story drew similar criticism from the brothers themselves, who argued Murphy sensationalized and misrepresented their case.

Now comes a series about John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of an assassinated president who himself died in a plane crash at 38. According to reports, the show will focus on JFK Jr.'s relationship with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who died alongside him. Schlossberg's criticism suggests the family sees this as yet another instance of Murphy turning tragedy into entertainment without consideration for the real people involved.

Here's the thing: Murphy is an undeniably talented producer. Pose was groundbreaking television. American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson was brilliant. He's capable of handling sensitive material with nuance and care. But increasingly, his Netflix deal seems to incentivize volume over thoughtfulness, churning out true-crime content that privileges shock value over ethical consideration.

The counterargument—and it's one Murphy's defenders make frequently—is that public figures are fair game for dramatic interpretation. The are historical figures, and artists have every right to explore their stories. with didn't require family approval. Neither did or countless other Kennedy-adjacent films.