The turbulent love story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Daryl Hannah: From passion to heartbreak

John F. Kennedy Jr. And Daryl HannahHannah and Hannah’s relationship was a tumultuous saga marked by intense passion and eventual heartbreak. Their story began on the picturesque Caribbean island of St. Martin, where they met as teenagers. It was not until 1989, thanks to Hannah’s politically well-connected stepfather, a businessman Jerrold Wexlerthat they were reintroduced and reignited a spark that would flicker until the early 1990s.

At the time of their reunion, both were involved in other relationships – Kennedy with the actress Christina Haag and Hannah with singer Jackson BrowneDespite these commitments, they began to meet, a development chronicled in the newly published “JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography.”

Their early relationship was marked by a mix of romantic attraction and personal complications, a dynamic that foreshadowed the difficulties they would later face.

A friend of Kennedy’s reported in the book that in 1993 there was great tension between Hannah and Jackie Onassis, Kennedy’s mother. Kennedy admitted to arguing with Hannah, saying, “She doesn’t get along with my mother, and so now I’m living in the basement of one of my friends’ apartments.” This strained relationship with his mother put additional pressure on their marriage.

Described by Kennedy’s friends as a “sweetheart” but “needy,” Hannah seemed to struggle with the demands of her high-profile relationship. One friend noted that the couple lacked a “spark,” adding, “You never saw them look lovingly into each other’s eyes. Ultimately, they disagreed on a lot of things.” This lack of mutual understanding and connection undermined their relationship even further.

The crucial moment that brought about their separation occurred in May 1994. While walking in Central Park, Kennedy lost control of Hannah’s dog, and the animal was hit by a car. Deeply affected by the accident, Kennedy was tasked with transporting the dog’s ashes to Los Angeles for a funeral organized by Hannah. However, the choice of container for the ashes – a box that did not meet Hannah’s expectations – added another layer of discord.

While Kennedy was in Los Angeles, his mother Jackie’s health deteriorated dramatically in New York. Five months earlier, she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Jackie’s condition deteriorated rapidly and she died shortly thereafter.

A friend of Kennedy’s describes in the book how deep his resentment was, because he believed Hannah had dragged him “to her dog’s funeral when his mother died of cancer.”

Carole Radziwillmarried to Kennedy’s cousin Anthony Radziwill, shared a poignant memory of a meal with Kennedy that Sunday evening. She described him as angry and felt Hannah was punishing him by insisting he fly to Los Angeles at such a critical time. Radziwill said, “It was just a terrible time and a bad omen.”

The climax of these events—Jackie Onassisand the death of Hannah’s dog – marked the end of their relationship.