Friends of the Kennedys have revealed details of a bitter family feud, which revealed that Caroline Kennedy felt Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was not “good enough” for her brother, John F. Kennedy Jr., because she had an “upper-middle-class” upbringing.
When news hit the Internet that JFK Jr. was dating Calvin Klein’s publicity director Carolyn, the whole world became fascinated by the couple.
Paparazzi followed them en masse and the media reported on their exploits, but there was one person who did not seem to appreciate the relationship: Caroline, JFK Jr.’s older sister.
According to friends of the couple, Caroline refused to accept her brother’s new romance until the wedding. Even after they were married, it was clear that she didn’t like the fashion guru very much.
Sasha Chermayeff, JFK Jr.’s girlfriend, said in her new book, JFK Jr.: An Intimate Biography, that Caroline didn’t like the fact that Carolyn came from an “upper-middle-class background that wasn’t noble.”
Caroline Kennedy felt that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was not ‘good enough’ for her brother JFK Jr., who is seen here with Carolyn, Caroline and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg
According to friends of the deceased couple, Caroline refused to accept her brother’s new romance until the wedding, and even after they tied the knot, she was not fond of Carolyn.
“Carolyn was beautiful, intense, funny, smart, but if there was one thing you had to fault her for, it was that she came from an… upper-middle-class Connecticut family and was not of noble birth,” Sasha wrote.
‘It became clear to me that Caroline was not going to accept Carolyn until the very last moment, until she had no choice – until she was standing at the f**king altar and there was no doubt left [that she was] in the family.’
Sasha said Caroline found her husband’s sister “condescending”, adding: “I don’t think there’s much love lost between us. [Carolyn] and Caroline.’
Acclaimed author Steven M. Gillon, who previously studied the life of JFK Jr. extensively for his own book, America’s Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr., also spoke out on the subject in the new biography.
‘Caroline didn’t think Carolyn was good enough for John – she and [husband Edwin Schlossberg] “I just found her to be short-tempered and selfish,” he said.
He recalled a time when the two couples got together to celebrate Christmas, but Caroline felt “disrespected” when Carolyn and Ed left the party early.
‘Carolyn was so worried [about impressing Caroline] “And she had all kinds of presents for them,” Steven said.
“They go there and Caroline and Ed left within the hour to go to a sporting event or something. Carolyn thought that was so disrespectful.”
JFK Jr.’s girlfriend Sasha Chermayeff revealed in a new book that Caroline didn’t like the fact that Carolyn came from an “upper middle class background.” JFK Jr. and Caroline are seen as children
Sasha said Caroline found her husband’s sister “condescending”, adding: “I don’t think there’s much love lost between us. [Carolyn] and Caroline.’ The couple in the photo in 1999
According to the book, there were also growing tensions between JFK Jr. and Caroline’s husband Ed.
They allegedly argued over an auction where John Jr. planned to “sell his mother’s belongings after she passed away.”
“They had to pay a lot of taxes on Martha’s Vineyard, so they had to sell a lot of stuff,” Steven said.
‘John wanted a private auction – he didn’t want the media attention of a public auction.
According to the book, there were also growing tensions between JFK Jr. and Caroline’s husband, Ed. Ed was seen with Caroline last year
‘Ed thought a public auction would bring in more money, and rightly so. What John resented was that Ed was making the decision – he believed that he and Caroline were the only ones who should make decisions about the family.
“And he resented Caroline delegating some of that responsibility to Ed.”
Steve said John Jr. also “went ballistic” after Ed offered to narrate an HBO documentary about his father, the late President John F. Kennedy, on the anniversary of his assassination.
“John was chosen because they basically put him in as the narrator without even asking him,” added RoseMarie Terenzio, JFK Jr.’s former aide.
Rob Littell, a friend of JFK Jr., said the budding lawyer felt Ed was “exploiting the family name.”
Sasha interrupted him: ‘John thought Ed was entitled to it and he’s driving a wedge between him and his sister.
‘John was so close to his sister, and then they stopped talking. Up until that point, no one had driven a wedge between John and his sister, and John hated that.
‘Carolyn was like, “F**k them. They’re belittling you, they’re bossing you around.” She was going to ramp it up even more, because her thing was protection.
“John stayed with Carolyn. Caroline stayed with Ed. The breakup was a deep wound.”
In the book, friends also revealed the hilarious way JFK Jr.’s aunt Lee Radziwill took revenge on him and Carolyn after they didn’t invite her to their wedding. She is seen in 1976
His assistant said that Lee (pictured here with JFK Jr.’s mother) gave the couple “scrunchies and barrettes” for Christmas that year, saying, “That was [my] f**k you for not inviting me’
JFK Jr. and Carolyn tragically died in a shocking plane crash in 1999.
Friends also tell of the hilarious way Lee Radziwill took revenge on JFK Jr. and Carolyn after they didn’t invite her to their wedding.
The couple secretly married in September 1996, but Lee, JFK Jr.’s aunt, did not attend the wedding.
According to RoseMarie, JFK Jr. did not invite Lee because “he did not trust her to maintain his trust.”
And the society woman showed her disdain for their decision when they celebrated Christmas together a few months later.
“That Christmas after the wedding, Carolyn and Lee exchanged gifts in their apartment,” Rose explained.
‘Carolyn gave her a Hermes blanket and Carolyn opened her gift from Lee and it was a box of Duane Reade hair clips. Duane Reade scrunchies and hair clips – like Goody hair clips.
Carolyn said, “I actually find this hysterical.” [Lee] was like, “You know what that was, don’t you, honey? That was [my] f**k you for not inviting me to your wedding. How dare you.”
“I’m sure Lee, who only cared about appearances, was embarrassed that she wasn’t invited to John’s wedding.”
DailyMail.com has contacted Caroline’s representatives for comment.