Erik Menendez Critiques ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’
As the audience remains split over the new season, Erik Menendez has voiced strong criticisms against Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. This series marks the second installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology on Netflix, which revisits the notorious story of the Menendez brothers who murdered their parents in 1989 and were later tried in 1996, receiving life sentences without parole. With a cast featuring Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Javier Bardem, and Chloë Sevigny, the second season has stirred controversy, much like its predecessor, due to its portrayal of the brothers.
Erik Menendez’s Reaction
Following its debut, Erik Menendez took to Facebook to share a detailed post criticizing Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. He began by expressing his disappointment with how the series depicted him and his brother, describing it as “dishonest” and lamenting how the media has misrepresented Lyle. Menendez questioned Murphy’s understanding of their story, suggesting that the inaccuracies could not be accidental:
“I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant likes rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose. 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. It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward — back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”
Menendez further highlighted the media’s portrayal of the brothers over the years, particularly in light of “countless brave victims” who have spoken out against similar abuses. He posed the question, “Is the truth not enough?” and expressed concern that Murphy’s narrative could undermine progress in acknowledging childhood trauma. Menendez concluded by thanking those who have supported him:
“Those awful lies have been disrupted and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out. So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander. Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth. How demoralizing to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shining light on childhood trauma. Violence is never an answer, never a solution, and is always tragic. As such, I hope it is never forgotten that violence against a child creates a hundred horrendous and silent crime scenes darkly shadowed behind glitter and glamor and rarely exposed until tragedy penetrates everyone involved. To all those who have reached out and supported me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Impact on ‘Monsters’ Season 2
Audience Reception
Menendez’s comments could unsettle those interested in Murphy’s latest exploration of infamous true crime. While Murphy’s The People v. O.J. Simpson — American Crime Story was praised for its pacing and adherence to facts, subsequent projects in both the American Crime Story and Monsters anthologies have been more divisive. As illustrated by audience scores from Rotten Tomatoes, Murphy’s fan base has remained loyal despite the controversy surrounding his shows. It seems unlikely that Monsters season 2 will deter viewers from engaging with The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, even with Erik’s criticisms of its factual representation. The first season, Dahmer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, faced significant backlash but still became one of the few Netflix shows to surpass 1 billion views within its first 60 days.
A Call for Change
Reevaluating Murphy’s Approach
Despite its potential success, Menendez’s criticisms suggest it may be time for Murphy to reassess his approach to true crime storytelling. Following The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Murphy has several projects lined up within the American Crime Story and Monster anthologies, including the JFK Jr. spinoff, American Love Story, and a third season featuring Charlie Hunnam as the infamous serial killer Ed Gein, an inspiration for Psycho’s Norman Bates.
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While some true-crime narratives may align with Murphy’s dramatic style, others, such as Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, call for sensitivity and accuracy. As Monsters season 3 remains in pre-production, Murphy would benefit from considering the criticisms from Menendez and others to ensure a more thoughtful portrayal of the stories he intends to bring to the screen.
[Source: Erik Menendez/Facebook (via Deadline)]
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
- Drama
- Crime
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is a true-crime drama series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The second installment in the "Monster" anthology series, Monsters retells the story of the Menendez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1996 after two trials with peculiar circumstances.
