Is it just a myth, pure bad luck, or a real curse? Let’s dive into the twists and turns of a family saga that fascinates as much as it haunts.
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The Kennedys: A Dynasty Doomed?
From the White House to Hollywood, the Kennedys are America’s dreamers… but nightmares seem almost inevitable! Since Joshua Kennedy Sr., the ambitious patriarch, down to the doomed paths of John, Robert, and John Jr., their legacy filled the headlines throughout the twentieth century.
But behind the golden legend, misfortune piled up on misfortune. As American journalist Edward Klein once wrote:
“No other dynasty has suffered so many tragedies over time.”
One look into their story, and you get why people whisper about a curse…
Assassinations, Crashes, Illness: Tragedy After Tragedy
Their history rivals a dark HBO series. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first Catholic US president, assassinated in Dallas in 1963, live for the world to see. Less than five years later, his brother Robert is shot in Los Angeles.
“It felt like fate lurked around every corner,” a family member once confided.
The cycle of fate doesn’t stop there. More Kennedys have perished in plane crashes. In 1999, John-John, the president’s son, died at 38 with his wife Carolyn and her sister, when their plane crashed over the Atlantic. Same story for JFK’s sister, Kathleen, who died in a 1948 plane crash.
Other infamous tragedies include: David Kennedy’s 1984 overdose, Michael Kennedy’s fatal skiing accident in 1997, and persistent health battles among family members (polio, cancer, strokes…).
“It’s like death was always with us,” Eunice Kennedy reportedly sighed.
Why Does This Dark Streak Fascinate Us So Much?
The press devours every incident.
“It’s hard not to see some sign of destiny at work,” says a specialist interviewed by a French media.
The public spins its own tales, from old-school superstition: some say an ancient curse, the evil eye, or even the “price of fame.” Others point to the risks that come with high-stakes public lives, political ambition, and relentless challenges.
And the bigger the list of misfortunes, the more obsessed we get. Online, the “Kennedy curse” sparks endless debates.
“You can’t break the bad luck, even if you’re filthy rich!” joked one poster.
This family has become the ultimate American tragic novel—some even say it echoes Greek mythology.
Proof of a Curse, or Just a Series of Unlucky Events?
Are the odds against them, or does high visibility just make their tragedies more noticeable? Many experts reject the idea of a real curse, arguing the family’s fame simply amplifies every blow.
“What people call fate is often just coincidence and extreme media attention,” an historian told Voici.
Still, the “cursed family” myth is hard to shake. It’s like a psychological curse: the more you believe in bad luck, the harder it is to escape.
“It’s a modern myth, revealing our need for heroes... and for scapegoats,” notes a sociologist.
Generation after generation, the fear of ill fortune seems stuck to the family like a relentless shadow.
Will the Kennedy Myth Haunt Future Generations?
Despite it all, the family tries to live with that weight. Younger Kennedys are writing their own stories, hoping to leave the past behind. But at the faintest sign of trouble, the headlines call it a “curse” all over again. It’s nearly impossible to step out of its shadow: the tale continues to fire our imagination and fuel both curiosity and speculation.
So, is it just a string of bad luck, or an unsolvable mystery? Maybe a bit of both. But one thing’s certain: as long as the Kennedys are around and in the spotlight, their saga will keep intriguing—and chilling—us all.
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Murders, illnesses, plane crashes, overdoses: The Kennedy family curse revisited
