In reflecting upon my role as Shayanna Jenkins in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, I can confidently say that it was one of the most transformative experiences of my acting career. Playing a character whose life mirrors some aspects of my own was both challenging and rewarding.
[This story contains spoilers from the ninth episode of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, “What’s Left Behind.”]
The title ‘What Remains’ suits the ninth episode of FX’s limited series American Crime Story: Aaron Hernandez. After the murder of Odin Lloyd, portrayed by J. Alex Brinson, was explored in the previous episode, Josh Rivera’s character, Aaron Hernandez, appears to have reached a turning point with no escape. Dismissing the police who visit his home at night to question him about Lloyd’s death is merely a short-term solution. In the end of this episode, Shayanna “Shay” Jenkins, his fiancée and co-inhabitant, finds herself in a challenging position as she must choose between her relationship with Hernandez and her late partner Odin’s father, Shaneah Jenkins, who is deeply mourning the loss of Odin on the couch within their shared home.
In episode nine, the spotlight is on Jenkins as her life spirals out of control following Hernandez’s arrest for Lloyd’s murder at the beginning of the episode. She finds herself juggling tasks such as working with lawyers, caring for a baby, managing financial difficulties after the Patriots terminated Hernandez and canceled his lucrative contract, avoiding paparazzi, and determining who she can confide in. As Jenkins navigates through these challenges, the trial looms large, and the most pressing concerns revolve around her decision: Will she stand by her partner or support her sister?
Jaylen Barron, who plays Jenkins in the series, reflects thoughtfully on the question, confident in her response. “In my viewpoint, upbringing, and cultural background, when you get married, your spouse takes precedence over family, don’t they? This situation is delicate because they were engaged but also had a child, and there are numerous complexities at play,” she says to The Hollywood Reporter. “I believe there isn’t a correct path in this scenario. She would have faced criticism no matter which way she chose, and I feel that she didn’t have a right decision to make. People often forget that she was just 22 years old, navigating through life with limited life experiences.
In episode nine, Barron’s Jenkins finds herself in a multitude of conflicting situations. Terri Hernandez’s mother, Emmy-winning Tammy Blanchard, is putting pressure on her to support Hernandez, who she has consistently mistreated and neglected despite being her own son. On the other hand, Jenkins’ own mother and sister anticipate her allegiance, leaving her feeling isolated. Although Tanya Hernandez, Tony award-winning Lindsay Mendez, provides comfort, she is battling cancer and is not readily available. Above all, Jenkins must consider the future of their daughter Avielle.
Her tie to Hernandez is a deep one. Because they both grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, they knew each other since they were kids and even dated in high school. Their relationship during Hernandez’s NFL career and shocking double life, however, is the main focus for the series. But Barron signed on to play Jenkins to widen the scope of her identity beyond just the woman who became Hernandez’s fiancée and the mother of their daughter.
Barron, known for shows like ‘Blindspotting’, ‘Free Rein’, and ‘Shameless’, expressed a desire to delve deeper into the character’s loyalty and affection for her partner, aiming to foster a stronger emotional bond between the audience and her. She believes the character was unfairly portrayed as villainous during the 2015 trial, and wishes viewers could grasp why she made the decisions she did, as it’s all too easy to judge with phrases like ‘I couldn’t be her.’
Despite growing up in the greater Los Angeles area with a Mexican-American mother and a Black American father from Tulsa, Oklahoma, I find Jenkins to be a fellow spirit, given her similar humble origins. As a warm and dedicated individual, I’ve had my fair share of relationships where I wasn’t reciprocated the same affection. In my personal life, I thought if I gave more, they would understand and return the favor, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
In terms of our family dynamics, we are all extremely devoted,” she explains. “I simply followed my personal values and actions, shaped by my upbringing, and this is how I built upon it. While there may be choices I don’t align with, I can empathize and grasp the reasons behind someone’s actions.
Regarding Jenkins, Barron feels it was highly unlikely for her to consider leaving, given the circumstances of facing murder charges over Lloyd’s death, who was potentially her brother-in-law and also the father of her child. As Barron puts it, “Jenkins had a child with him, loved him deeply, constructed an entire life around him, and endured unknown traumas in her past. It’s only when we find ourselves in similar situations that we can truly understand.
Barron firmly denies that fame or wealth played a role in Jenkins’ relationship with Hernandez. She explains, “They had been friends since high school, even middle school. But she saw others come into his life only to leave again, over and over. Given his family background and the fact that many try to exploit people with wealth and success, it’s not uncommon for him to have such experiences.” She continues, “Shay, however, can unequivocally say that she stood by him through thick and thin, and I believe this is what kept her by his side and led her to commit to him during this time.
She emphasized that she could never leave her closest friend because it mirrored her feelings in a similar situation. Her friend was genuinely attached to this person, and abandoning them during their time of need would weigh heavily on her conscience, causing restlessness at night and difficulty carrying out daily tasks. The guilt would be unbearable for her, and she believed that her friend wanted him to know he wasn’t alone – she wanted to stay by his side and show him that giving up wasn’t an option.
Despite recognizing that Jenkins and Hernandez’s relationship as portrayed in the series is an interpretation, Barron strongly believes that Jenkins may have been more perceptive about her fiancé than many might suspect. “We can’t be certain about their private conversations or disputes,” she notes, “but I am convinced that Shay [was able to] sense something amiss in him which others missed.
Instead of just wishing for a deeper exploration of their bond, she yearns for the series to delve more into it. “I believe he confided in her on a level we didn’t fully address in the show,” Barron clarifies. “She couldn’t let him go because she was aware of the potential consequences, which sadly played out as what he did to himself and Odin. But I truly believe she did her best under the circumstances.
As a gamer, all I ever wished for Hernandez was his well-being, regardless of whether he’d become a football legend or work at a store like Target. What mattered most to Barron, as I see it, was that Jenkins just wanted him to be content and thrive in whatever path he chose.
With actor Josh Rivera portraying Aaron Hernandez, Barron discovered a natural camaraderie. “Josh and I had never interacted prior to the show, and without it, we likely wouldn’t have become friends or crossed paths,” she muses. “But there was an immediate connection between us, and we got along wonderfully.
She expresses her sense of self-satisfaction about playing Jenkins, stating that Showrunner Stuart Zicherman does an exceptional job of integrating their cultural perspective as Black women into the script. He ensures that Black women with creativity, beauty, and talent are responsible for writing our dialogue.
Capturing “the lingo between a Black mother and a Black daughter,” she says, was very important to him when it came to her role as Jenkins. That attention to detail, she continues, was important because “it’s a very specific culture that not a lot of people are aware of. I just felt really blessed to be a part of an experience that was inclusive and collaborative.”
She also mentions, “They’ve got me nailed,” referring to Zicherman and his team. “Shayanna’s way of speaking feels natural to me, not like an act, because I wasn’t trying to be her; instead, I was aiming to portray who I believed she truly is.
Barron finds Jenkins particularly endearing, which makes her break into a smile. “I adore her so much,” she enthuses. “She has no idea who I am, but the way I perceive and understand her is like ‘I see you, girl. I’m with you.’ I’ve never had this kind of connection before, but when I was on set and going through emotional upheaval, it significantly impacted my personal life as well.
She adds, “This role has changed my approach to acting in so many different ways. I had to tap into such a dark place for these emotions in Shayanna that I’ve never been to before and it taught me that I need to make sure I take care of myself when I leave the set… I just have a completely new respect for this craft.”
She went on to explain, ‘I transformed into someone entirely new. I absorbed an energy that wasn’t always beneficial, yet it instilled in me a profound respect for my work.’
The betrayal of Hernandez weighed heavily on Jenkins, as Barron observes, and this emotional burden was also felt by her. It wasn’t just the act of infidelity, but the constant fear that their family – comprising Jenkins, her partner, and their daughter – would be torn apart that haunted Jenkins, and to some extent, she was correct. The poignant scene in episode nine depicts Jenkins taking their daughter, Avi, to visit Hernandez in prison on her birthday, only for the guards to confiscate the cupcakes and hats. In an attempt to make things seem normal for Avi, they all pretended to celebrate with imaginary cupcakes, smiling behind the prison glass. Jenkins leaving to get water for Avi so that Hernandez could have some private time with their daughter was a particularly heartwarming moment, showcasing the deep love between them. However, the true impact should be on how tirelessly Jenkins strives to keep her family together despite Hernandez’s imprisonment.
Knowing that Hernandez identified as sexually fluid wouldn’t have diminished Jenkins-Hernandez’s feelings for him, even though they never married before his suicide in prison in 2017. As Barron puts it, “If she remained loyal through a murder charge, then sexual orientation was insignificant.
In an uncommon interview with Good Morning America in 2020, the genuine Jenkins-Hernandez responded to that question by saying: “I wouldn’t have loved him any less. I would have understood. It’s not something to be ashamed of, and no one should feel ashamed about who they truly are, especially based on whom they love. I believe it’s a wonderful thing, I just wish I could have told him that.
Barron emphatically expresses that she harbors absolutely no remorse for portraying Jenkins, confidently stating that she poured her entire being into each and every scene. With unwavering certainty, she declares that if given the opportunity to replay the role a million times, she would seize it without a moment’s pause.
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As a devoted sports enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the ninth episode of “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” is now available for streaming! You can catch it on both FX and Hulu. For those who prefer a traditional TV experience, mark your calendars as the finale airs on FX on November 12. If you’re more of a streamer, fear not! The finale will be available on Hulu the very next day. Enjoy the suspenseful conclusion to this captivating tale!
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2024-11-07 20:55