RICHARD JOHNSON: Carolyn Bessette ex ‘took full advantage’ of relationship

Michael Bergin, once a celebrated Calvin Klein model, plays a significant role in the FX mini-series “Love Story,” which chronicles the ill-fated marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Known for his four-year stint on “Baywatch,” Bergin lent his expertise as a consultant to the series spearheaded by Ryan Murphy, according to a source from his time at Click Model Management.

Following the tragic plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard in 1999 that claimed the lives of Kennedy and Bessette, Bergin became a familiar face on television, sharing his experiences and insights. He also penned a memoir titled “The Other Man,” detailing his affair with Bessette. “He cared about her, but also took full advantage of the relationship,” the source revealed.

Today, Bergin has traded the runway and screen for real estate, working as an agent in Beverly Hills. His character in the series is portrayed by Noah Fearnley. Meanwhile, Jack Schlossberg, JFK Jr.’s nephew and a potential candidate for Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s seat, has criticized Ryan Murphy. Schlossberg remarked, “The guy knows nothing about what he’s talking about, and he’s making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.”

Michael Bergin attends the premiere of ABC News Studios docuseries "After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun" at The Bungalow on August 26, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (
Michael Bergin attends the premiere of ABC News Studios docuseries “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun” at The Bungalow on August 26, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

“He cared about her, but also took full advantage of the relationship,” said my source.

Bergin, married with a grown son and daughter, is now a real estate agent in Beverly Hills. He’s played by Noah Fearnley in the show.

John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy arrive at the Minskoff Theatre in New York on April 6, 1998.
John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy arrive at the Minskoff Theatre in New York on April 6, 1998. (Mitch Jacobson/AP)

JFK Jr.’s nephew Jack Schlossberg, a candidate to replace Rep. Jerrold Nadler, blasted Ryan Murphy, saying, “The guy knows nothing about what he’s talking about, and he’s making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.”

****

If you give your spouse a sexually transmitted disease (STD,) you will pay 100 percent of the marital assets in your divorce, under a recent county ruling.

The NY State Supreme Court in Nassau County held that the sexual transmission of infection within a marriage is a form of domestic violence.

“I was surprised,“ said Ankit Kapoor, a partner at Cohen Stine Kapoor LLP. “This is the first case I’ve seen where giving your spouse an STD is equated with domestic violence.”

In this case, the husband had an affair and contracted an STD which he then gave to his wife. As a result, she developed cervical cancer that required surgery and lifelong antiviral medication.

The court found that engaging in unprotected sex after an extramarital affair constituted reckless conduct and transmitting the diseases to the spouse qualified as domestic violence. The wife was awarded 100 percent of the marital assets.

Kapoor suggested that everyone get tested for STDs before they marry. The lawyer, who was a police officer in Brooklyn for seven years before he passed the bar, said the ruling could make Generation Z even less adventurous.

“People will be less likely to have extramarital affairs,” he said.

****

Who do you get when you want a “John McGinley type?” John C. McGinley, right? Not at first.

The veteran “Platoon,” “Wall Street” and “The Rock” actor read repeatedly for the sitcom “Scrubs” before getting the wisecracking role of Dr. Perry Cox.

John C. McGinley attends the Premiere of ABC/Hulu's "Scrubs" Season 1 at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on February 23, 2026 in Los Angeles.
John C. McGinley attends the Premiere of ABC/Hulu’s “Scrubs” Season 1 at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on February 23, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

McGinley revealed the torturous try-outs with a chuckle at a Whitby Hotel breakfast this week for his new Steve Carell HBO show “The Rooster.” That show is also produced by “Scrubs” co-creator Bill Lawrence who was on the panel discussion.

“They had me read for the part five times,” McGinley said in mock frustration. “And in the script description of the character it said ‘John McGinley type!’” Causing Lawrence to add “Yes, but you weren’t fully John McGinley then.” “The Rooster” premieres Sunday on HBO.

****

After being tucked away in a sprawling Upper East Side apartment for almost 60 years, a rare painting by Indian modernist Akbar Padamsee is going up for sale at Roland Auctions NY on March 28.

The signed 1962 “metascape” was purchased by collectors Harold and Elizabeth Healy in France’s Dordogne valley and brought back to NYC in 1967.

Their son Harris Healy, who was 8 years-old at the time, recalled, “One day my parents took me into this tiny, dusty art shop in Dordogne where we found and purchased the Padamsee, which has been with us ever since.”

The artist’s comparable painting titled “Greek Landscape” sold at Saffron Art in Mumbai in 2016 for $2.9 million.

Padamsee, one of the pioneers of Indian modern art, was a protégé of the Aga Khan, who encouraged the young artist to move to Paris and further his studies.

****

Mick Jagger’s fiancé, former ABT ballerina Melanie Hamrick, will be honored at this year’s Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Gala at the David Koch Theater in Lincoln Center on April 16.

Mick Jagger and Melanie Hamrick pose on the red carpet upon arrival at the 2025 Fashion Awards.
Mick Jagger and Melanie Hamrick pose on the red carpet upon arrival at the 2025 Fashion Awards. (Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images)

My sources say Mick and Melanie, who have a 9-year-old son named Deveraux, have moved to London full-time, where their son goes to school. The couple, who have been together for 12 years, still love coming to New York. In addition to YAGP, Melanie will co-chair this year’s NYC Ballet Spring Gala on May 7. Mick loves the ballet and has attended both events to support Melanie in the past.

Love Shack Fancy’s founder Rebecca Hessel Cohen will also be honored at the event, and former dancer and Knicks cheerleader, Marcella Hymowitz will reprise her role as the gala’s “Creative Chair.” In 2024, her husband donated $1 million to the organization to found the Marcella Hymowitz Creative Fellowship.

Guest artists from around the world will grace the stage, including Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko of La Scala Ballet and the return of Polina Semionova of Berlin State Ballet.

For the third year, the Gala will include an auction of custom-designed pointe shoes. Past designers include Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Alice + Olivia, Helmut Lang and Herve Leger.

****

Jennifer Hudson and Josh Groban will hit the road this summer.

Josh Groban appears with Jennifer Hudson on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" airing December 16, 2025 in Burbank, California.
Josh Groban appears with Jennifer Hudson on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” airing December 16, 2025 in Burbank, California. (Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images).

The duo will appear at Madison Square Garden on June 12 as part of their North American tour.

Groban recently sang with international rock star Yoshiki, who lives in L.A., during the encore of his concert at Orchard Hall in Tokyo, where the duo received a ten-minute standing ovation.

The two longtime friends performed Yoshiki’s song “Endless Rain.” Groban sang in English and Japanese, accompanied by Yoshiki on the piano.

The rocker will hold his “Yoshiki Classical: Eve of Awakening” concerts from April 3-5 at the Tokyo Garden Theater.

****

Ian Axel and Chad King of A Great Big World perform onstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Ian Axel and Chad King of A Great Big World perform onstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

Chad King and Ian Axel, who perform together as A Great Big World, released “All in Time,” an emotional folk-inspired reflection of King’s personal journey with multiple sclerosis, on March 2.

The duo won a Grammy for their Christina Aguilera collab “Say Something” and wrote the song “Fall on Me” for Matteo and Andrea Bocelli.

King, who was diagnosed with MS in 2007, will be donating half of the song’s stream/sales to his friend Nancy Davis, founder of Race to Erase MS foundation, to fund research that will cure MS.

In addition to Davis, CNN’s John King, Selma Blair, Christina Applegate, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Montel Williams have been diagnosed with MS.

You May Also Like

Manhattan building developer says collapse fears were overblown, calls buckling columns 'localized situation'

Manhattan Developer Downplays Collapse Fears, Says Buckling Columns Were a Localized Issue

The developer of a Manhattan high-rise that triggered collapse concerns after buckled…
South Carolina 4-year-old Javeayah Harris's remains found

Missing South Carolina 4-Year-Old Javeayah Harris’ Remains Found, Authorities Confirm

Grim new information has surfaced in the death of a 4-year-old South…
ICE agents in fatal Houston shooting were not wearing body cameras, sources say

Sources: ICE Agents in Fatal Houston Shooting Were Not Wearing Body Cameras

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents connected to this week’s deadly shooting…
NYC eatery Babbo ordered to turn over video from when ‘Scabby the Rat’ mascot was knifed

Babbo ordered to hand over footage after Scabby the Rat mascot was slashed in NYC

A Manhattan judge has directed Babbo, the famed Greenwich Village Italian restaurant,…
Navy sailor and her homeless lover allegedly shot dead in twisted SoCal love triangle

Alleged SoCal Love Triangle Ends With Navy Sailor and Homeless Partner Shot Dead

A 27-year-old man who had agreed to an open relationship with his…
Hot Takes: Abdul El-Sayed Leveled After 'Vile' Campaign Tweet on Charlie Kirk Amid Preliminary Hearing

Critics Slam Abdul El-Sayed Over Charlie Kirk Campaign Tweet as Preliminary Hearing Opens

This election cycle has once again highlighted the sharp ideological divisions within…
New 911 audio captures neighbors warning of 'full-out war' before police were attacked in block party chaos

New 911 Calls Capture Neighbors Warning of ‘Full-Out War’ Before Police Attacked Amid Block Party Chaos

Newly obtained 911 audio reveals frightened residents in North Charleston, South Carolina,…
Man fatally shot by ICE in Houston was not intended target, DHS says

Houston ICE Shooting: DHS Says Man Killed Was Not the Intended Target

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who fatally shot Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado…
Wild video shows two cars almost hit pedestrian as smash into Brooklyn building in suspected road rage clash

Video Shows Cars Nearly Hit Pedestrian Before Crashing Into Brooklyn Building in Suspected Road Rage Incident

Dramatic video captured the moment two drivers — one of them allegedly…
Air Force revokes 135 technical sergeant promotions after test scoring mistake

Air Force Rescinds 135 Technical Sergeant Promotions Over Test Scoring Error

More than 100 Air Force airmen have had their promotions withdrawn after…
Israeli envoy says Trump could score biggest Abraham Accords win yet — with Lebanon

Israeli Envoy Says Trump Could Secure Landmark Abraham Accords Breakthrough With Lebanon

President Trump’s push to reorder Middle East diplomacy may yet produce one…
8 indicted in planned sniper attack at White House UFC 250 event, DOJ says

DOJ: Eight Indicted in Alleged Sniper Plot Targeting White House UFC 250 Event

Eight individuals are now facing terrorism-related charges in connection with an alleged…