Jack Schlossberg, at the age of 31, recently responded to a Today show segment about Sotheby's second annual Fashion Icons auction. This auction features three clothing items that once belonged to his late aunt, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The items include 2 black wool coats with starting bids of $15,000 each and a faux leopard print coat with a starting bid of $20,000.

Schlossberg's Reaction on Instagram

He expressed his unease with the auction in his Instagram Stories, writing "Super creepy if you ask me." Alongside a photo of the segment playing on a TV screen, he tagged both Today and anchor Savannah Guthrie, stating in a second post, "I think you should interview young people (me) instead of a dress you found somewhere to make $$ of someone's death."

Details of the Auction

The auction opened for online bidding on Nov. 27 and will close on Dec. 17. During this period, the garments will be displayed at Sotheby's New York from Dec. 5 through 10. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Schlossberg's aunt by marriage, was tragically killed in a plane crash on July 16, 1999, at the age of 33. Her sister Lauren Bessette and husband John F. Kennedy Jr. also lost their lives in the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board declared in a 2000 report that the crash was due to "pilot error" caused by "spatial disorientation."In 1996, Jack's mother Caroline Kennedy and his uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. partnered with Sotheby's for a blockbuster auction of items from their mother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's estate, which garnered over $34 million. Bessette-Kennedy, a former fashion publicist, has become a style icon in history. Her effortless chic style set trends in the 1990s and continues to influence fashion today.A press release from Sotheby's describes Bessette-Kennedy as "an irreplaceable figure, captivating the world with her timeless elegance, minimalist style, and what is known today as 'quiet luxury.'" The three clothing pieces featured in the auction were gifted to her by her friend RoseMarie Terenzio, who was also Kennedy's executive assistant. Sotheby's fashion specialist Lucy Bishop says through the press release, "There is no greater expression of someone's life than their clothes. Countless articles have been written about Carolyn's life and era-defining minimalist style, yet relatively little exists on public record of her own voice. These garments speak volumes about her tragically short but remarkable life."

Schlossberg's Career and Social Media Presence

Schlossberg was a political correspondent for Vogue during the 2024 election. Since then, he has embraced social media more actively, sharing various aspects of his life with his 442,000 Instagram followers. He completed his undergraduate degree at Yale University and went on to earn an M.B.A. and J.D. from Harvard Law and Business Schools. He passed the bar exam in 2023.Never miss a story by signing up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay updated on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.