Yahoo Lifestyle "Makes Me Sick": Here's Everything You Need To Know About Why "Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story" Is Being Called Out By Viewers
This post contains mentions of sexual abuse and child abuse.
If you've been on Netflix recently, then chances are you've seen Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which is #1 in the US as of today.
Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the show marks the second season in their Monsters anthology series. The new season comes after Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which starred Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer.
The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tells the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted of murdering their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez. In 1996, they were found guilty and sentenced to life without parole.
In the TV series, Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez star as Erik and Lyle, respectively. While Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny portray José and Kitty.
The first trial was highly publicized in 1993 after the brothers were arrested. Notably, the brothers faced the possibility of the death penalty if they were convicted of first-degree murder. During this trial, the brothers claimed that they killed their parents in self-defense after testifying that they were sexually abused by their father and their mother knew about it.
According to CBS News, Lyle testified that his father began sexually abusing him when "he was only 6 years old," with the abuse stopping when he was 8. However, Erik testified that the abuse "never ended" for him.
Eventually, it was declared a mistrial, with the jury reportedly divided over whether the brothers "should be convicted of murder or manslaughter." A second trial began in 1995, with prosecutors, according to CBS News, arguing the brothers lied about the abuse, and they coined their defense, "The abuse excuse." The prosecutors claimed they killed their parents for money.
The state reportedly emphasized the "brutality of the crime" during the second trial. José and Kitty were shot multiple times "at close range with a shotgun" inside their Beverly Hills mansion. Lyle was the one who called 911, reportedly screaming, "Someone killed my parents."
In 2023, new evidence was found reportedly corroborating Erik and Lyle's claims of abuse and killing their parents out of self-defense. A letter written by Erik to his cousin, Andy Cano, in 1988. Part of the letter reads, "I've been trying to avoid dad. It's still happening, Andy, but it's worse for me now."
The letter continues, with Erik writing, "Every night I stay up thinking he might come in. … I'm afraid. … He's crazy. He's warned me a hundred times about telling anyone, especially Lyle."
Andy Cano did testify at the brothers' original trials, stating that he knew Erik had confided in him about the alleged sexual abuse. However, at the time, the prosecutors reportedly suggested that Cano was lying.
According to CBS News, the letter was reportedly discovered in storage "within the last few years" by Andy's mom following his death in 2003.
The letter also comes after Roy Rosselló, a former member of the band Menudo, claimed he was sexually assaulted by José Menendez, too.
The Menendez brothers' attorney filed a habeas petition in May 2023, citing the letter and Rosselló's affidavit as new evidence. According to CBS News, the petition asks that Erik and Lyle's convictions be vacated.
The brothers are currently still in prison, serving their life sentences. In 2018, they were reunited in prison for the first time in over two decades.
In the years following their 1996 sentencing, numerous documentaries, movies, and more have been made about the Menendez brothers. In 2017, the brothers and their trial were notably at the center of the limited series Law & Order True Crime — The Menéndez Murders.
The show focused on defense lawyer Leslie Abramson and the physical and sexual abuse allegations. Edie Falco, who portrayed Abramson, was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series.
And now, Netflix has added Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story to the list of Hollywood's growing fascination with not only Erik and Lyle Menendez, but also true crime.
While the show is currently No. 1 on Netflix in the US, there has already been criticism surrounding the series, with many people calling out putting the brothers in the "monsters" series alongside the likes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
One X, formerly Twitter, user wrote, "This shit pisses me off so bad. These aren’t fictional characters. Erik and Lyle are real people who experienced years of sexual and emotional abuse by their father. They weren’t monsters and never had an incestuous relationship. Ryan Murphy why do you do this."
And, while some have praised the performances in the show, particularly Cooper Koch, who is at the center of a 34-minute single shot episode as Erik, many have also called out the series for implying Erik and Lyle had an incestuous relationship and making light of the abuse allegations the brothers made against their parents.
One person tweeted, "i fucking knew it was gonna be written like this when i saw the cover being them shirtless and on one another ew."
In one moment from the show, which went viral shortly after the series dropped, Erik and Lyle are seen kissing, with the caption: "Of course, it's a Ryan Murphy production." The kiss is shown in Episode 2 when the brothers are depicted going on a spending spree after the murder of their parents.
One viral quote tweet, which has over 3 million views, reads: "The Menendez brothers were victims of sexual abuse who finally retaliated against their abusers and this disgusting piece of trash has turned their story into an incestuous fanfic. Hell is not hot enough for Ryan Murphy."
Also, many replied to the viral clip sharing similar sentiments on how this does a disservice to Erik and Lyle. One X, formerly Twitter, user wrote, "Makes me sick thinking of how they became a joke in the nineties when new evidence has shown it is very likely they were sexually abused by their father."
Another chimed in, "The [Menendez] brothers deserved a proper amplification of the story of how they got abused by their father and not whatever this is."
Alongside viewers, Erik called out the new series. In a statement posted to X by his wife, he began, "I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose."
Ted Soqui / Sygma / Getty Images
He added, "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 continued, saying, "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."
You can read Erik's full statement below:
Erik's response to the Netflix's series.#NetflixMonsters #Netflix #RyanMurphy pic.twitter.com/Xz1waxA2u3
— Tammi Menendez (@TammiMenendez1) September 20, 2024
Tammi Menendez / X / Via x.com
The criticism from viewers and Erik about this show also comes after Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was heavily critiqued by viewers for "romanticizing" Dahmer's murders and the victims' families, who were reportedly not even notified the show would be taking place.
Many people on X, formerly Twitter, have taken to sharing real-life footage of the Menendez brothers at their trial instead of amplifying the dramatization shown in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Many hope viewers will instead seek out documentaries about the case.
In fact, today, Netflix just announced a new documentary featuring the Menendez brothers, too.
30 years after the murders, Lyle and Erik Menendez tell their story. The Menendez Brothers premieres October 7. pic.twitter.com/U3TedPHu6E
— Netflix (@netflix) September 23, 2024
Netflix / Via x.com
While walking the red carpet at the premiere for his new series Grotesquerie, Ryan Murphy commented on the criticism, namely the incest plotline, telling Entertainment Tonight, "What the show is doing is presenting the points of view and theories from so many people who were involved in the case. Dominick Dunne wrote several articles talking about that theory."
He continued, saying, "We are presenting his point of view just as we present Leslie Abramson's point of view. We had an obligation to show all of that, and we did."
He also mentioned that Erik has not seen the series, so he's surprised he commented on the show.
What are your thoughts on Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story? Tell us in the comments below.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.
If you are concerned that a child is experiencing or may be in danger of abuse, you can call or text the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (4.A.CHILD); service can be provided in over 140 languages.
