Ryan Murphy has defended Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story amidst criticism of his new Netflix true crime series, particularly in response to comments made by Erik Menendez himself.
Developed by Murphy and Ian Brennan, Season 2 of Monsters focuses on the infamous case that became known as the trial of the century after brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in 1989.
While the case isn’t a straightforward issue of guilt or innocence, the Menendez brothers are currently fighting their convictions from prison, asserting that they endured a lifetime of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents.
Since its debut on Netflix, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has encountered significant backlash regarding its portrayal of Lyle, its handling of abuse allegations, and scenes suggesting an incestuous relationship between the brothers.
Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, released a statement on his behalf on X/Twitter, criticizing the new series for creating “a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show.”
“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 added.
Erik lamented that the series’ portrayal regresses to a time when the prosecution perpetuated narratives suggesting males could not be sexually abused and that their trauma was experienced differently than that of women.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Murphy addressed the backlash from the Menendez brothers, stating, “What do you say to their backlash?”
@entertainmenttonight Ryan Murphy responds to Erik Menendez’s criticisms of his new crime anthology series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story #ryanmurphy #monsters #erikmenendez #netflix
♬ original sound – Entertainment Tonight – Entertainment Tonight
Murphy responded, “I have many things to say about that. I think it’s interesting that he’s issued a statement without having seen the show. It’s really hard if it’s your life, to see your life up on screen.”
He elaborated, “The thing that I find interesting, that he doesn’t mention in his quote, is that if you watch the show, I would say 60-65% of our series in the scripts and in the film focuses on the abuse and what they claim happened to them.”
“And we depict it very carefully, giving them their day in court, and they discuss it openly. In this era where people can openly discuss sexual abuse, addressing it from multiple points of view can be contentious,” Murphy continued.
“It’s a ‘Rashomon’ kind of approach, where there are four people involved in this narrative, two of whom are deceased. What about the parents? As storytellers, we had a responsibility to incorporate their perspective based on our research, which we did.”
The interviewer also touched on the backlash regarding the insinuation of a romantic relationship between the Menendez brothers.
Murphy responded, “If you watch the show, we are showcasing the viewpoints and theories from many individuals involved in the case.”
Erik’s response to the Netflix’s series. #NetflixMonsters #Netflix #RyanMurphy pic.twitter.com/Xz1waxA2u3
— Tammi Menendez (@TammiMenendez1) September 20, 2024
Murphy further noted, “Dominick Dunne wrote various articles discussing that theory. We are presenting his perspective just as we present Leslie Abramson’s viewpoint. Showing all sides was a responsibility we had, and we fulfilled it.”
Despite his assertions, Murphy’s comments have not resonated well with true crime enthusiasts. One Reddit user remarked, “What they CLAIM happened to them? So dismissive of abuse victims, there is evidence that Jose was abusive.”
Another user stated, “And how does he respond to the evident fetishization of the brothers? The portrayal of Lyle is fundamentally inaccurate. I can’t believe how poorly the show turned out.”
A different commenter added, “‘We had an obligation.’ You didn’t; you could have simply left the case alone instead of creating a series about it,” criticizing Murphy for allegedly fetishizing the brothers and misrepresenting Lyle. “Without Cooper’s portrayal of Erik, the entire show would have been a disaster.”
One viewer remarked, “Dominic Dunne never made claims of incest; he was merely unsettlingly fascinated by the brothers’ sexuality… why not include Robert Rand, who was interviewed much more extensively about the case?”
On the flip side, some viewers had positive reactions to the series, with one saying, “Of course, the dialogue isn’t flawless and the emotions might not align perfectly with reality, but it effectively conveys the overall message from an objective viewpoint.”
Another user shared, “From the moment Kitty yanked off Lyle’s wig at the beginning, I sided with the boys. I watched the earlier series featuring Edie Falco from 2017 and felt that this new installment portrays significantly more sympathy for them.”
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently available for streaming on Netflix. Additionally, a new documentary examining the case will debut on Netflix on October 7. In the meantime, explore more about the case through our guides on the Monsters’ toupee and the current whereabouts of Dr. Jerome Oziel.
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