Alongside Netflix audiences, the Menendez family is expressing their strong discontent regarding the incestuous scenes featured in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and the feedback is overwhelmingly negative.
Warning: some viewers may find this content distressing.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology series made its return to Netflix this week with the debut of Monster Season 2, which delves into the notorious case involving Lyle and Erik Menendez, who killed their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1989.
The brothers are currently fighting their case from prison, with new allegations of abuse against their father, Jose Menendez, surfacing. This revelation has contributed to the mounting criticism aimed at Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Similar to the backlash faced by Dahmer for allegedly “romanticizing”the infamous serial killer, the new series has been labeled as “misleading”and “gratuitous.”There are growing concerns that this portrayal could negatively influence Erik and Lyle’s ongoing appeal.
Among the numerous grievances raised by viewers are the scenes hinting at an incestuous relationship between the brothers. Notably, one scene depicts Kitty (Chloë Sevigny) discovering Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch) in the shower together.
Relatives of the Menendez brothers, who manage Lyle’s Facebook page, have posted numerous critiques condemning the series since its launch, dismissing the “absurd notion that the brothers were lovers” as “pure evil.”
“So these ‘writers/creators’ woke up, had their breakfast, and went to work to fabricate lies about rape survivors who have endured suffering daily. They did this for financial gain. Ironically,” they stated.
“Let’s not forget: There was significantly more evidence of abuse presented during the first trial than in many successful child abuse cases.”
“They had extensive material to work with, yet this is the path they selected????? It’s laughable. It’s pathetic. It re-victimizes. It’s purely imaginary. It’s fiction.”
“To propagate the outrageous idea that the brothers were lovers is the epitome of pure evil. How convenient that the new evidence was never introduced! Honestly, I have no idea what I just watched, as it bears no resemblance to reality or the individuals I know.”
They concluded with, “Even if marketed as fiction, it would still be horrendous.”
In another post, they questioned, “Why are male sexual assault victims hesitant to come forward? Because they fear encountering creators of such trash.”
Throughout their live updates on each episode of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, they noted some “emotionally poignant moments” in Episode 4.
However, they highlighted a major complaint from Netflix viewers: “They have already established what they want you to think about these characters (which are essentially fictional).
“The flashbacks that ‘reconstruct’ what was previously shown and presented as fact in the series only suggest that these are the characters’ ‘stories’.”
As a “palate cleanser,” the family of the brothers recommended watching Menendez Brothers: Misjudged, which they claimed is “one of the finest documentaries made regarding this case.”
If you’re interested, the documentary is available for streaming on Max, and it will also re-air at 9 PM ET on Investigation Discovery tonight (September 20).
For more insights, check out our comprehensive breakdown of the Menendez case and insights from legal experts regarding the brothers’ appeal.
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