Despite facing significant backlash regarding Monsters Season 2, director Ryan Murphy sees no value in engaging with the subjects of the series, the Menendez brothers.
The realm of true crime has become increasingly contentious as Murphy’s Netflix series, Monsters, has garnered a wave of criticism since its launch.
Season 2 centers on Lyle and Erik Menendez, brothers who infamously murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills home back in 1989.
Murphy’s show has faced strong condemnation as “pure evil” from members of the Menendez family, including the brothers, but the director is not seeking a face-to-face meeting, telling Variety, “I have no interest in talking to them. What would I ask them? I know what their perspective is.”
This direct response came when the outlet questioned him about whether he planned to visit both brothers at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, similar to actor Cooper Koch, who portrayed Erik in the series.
On September 21, Erik Menendez released a statement via his wife, Tammi, in which he criticized Murphy and Netflix for disseminating “horrible and blatant lies” about their lives.
“It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent,” he stated.
Menendez further emphasized that the show undermined the narratives of sexual abuse survivors, noting that the brothers asserted that their experiences of such abuse contributed to their actions.
In response, Murphy remarked, “The family’s response is predictable, at best. I find it interesting because I would like specifics about what they think is shocking or not shocking. It’s not like we’re making any of this stuff up. It’s all been presented before. What we’re doing is we’re the first to present it in one contained ecosystem. What’s grotesque about it?”
“Tammi [and] the family have always conducted themselves in this manner — they say, ‘lies after lies’ — but they fail to specify what those lies are. They provide no substantiation,” he continued.
The director even claimed that he believes the series is “the best thing that has happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years.”
He added, “They are now being talked about by millions of people around the globe. There’s a documentary coming out in two weeks about them, also on Netflix. The fascinating aspect is that it provokes discussions about whether they should receive a new trial, whether they should be released from prison, and what implications that holds in our society. Should people remain incarcerated for life? Is there absolutely no possibility of rehabilitation? I’m intrigued by these questions, and many people are engaging in the conversation.”
While Murphy’s show may incite debate regarding a re-evaluation of the brothers’ case, the showrunner has no intentions of advocating on behalf of Erik or Lyle, as he does not “believe in being part of that machine.”
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently streaming on Netflix. Additionally, a new documentary about the case premieres on Netflix on October 7. In the meantime, you can gain more insight into the case with our comprehensive guides, including details about the Monsters’ toupee and the current whereabouts of Dr. Jerome Oziel.
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