The new popular show “Monsters, The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” by Ryan Murphey and Ian Brennan is becoming widely talked about, but not because of how great it is.
Murphey and Brennan have experienced a share of backlash from their previous show, “Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story” by parents of the victims complaining about how the show depicted Dahmer’s relationships with them. Unfortunately, more backlash and controversies are being courted by the Menendez Brothers Story. Not only have people voiced complaints regarding certain portions of the Menendez brother’s portrayal in the film, but one of the brothers and a trial expert have also voiced their disapproval.
Why is ‘Monsters’ so Problematic?
There are several issues with the latest Monsters season. The fact that the show compares Lyle and Erik- who killed their abusers after enduring years of severe abuse- to serial killer, cannibal, and rapist Jeffery Dahmer has already drawn criticism from some viewers. However, the way in which the show presents the brothers’ connections with one another has caused the most debate.
The show features many homoerotic moments, much like other Ryan Murphey shows, and most of them take place between the two brothers. Some instances include Lyle interrupting Erik when he’s dancing with a woman and sticking his thumb in his brother’s mouth, and in a fantasy scene, their mother enters while they’re taking a shower together. The brothers also kiss on the mouth. However, there is no proof that the brother’s relationship was sexual in any way because according to Robert Rand, a reporter who covered the case and went on to write The Menendez Murders, the definitive book on the trial published in 2018, states that there is no truth to the incest rumors. Rand also told Hollywood, “Rumors were going around the trial that maybe there was some sort of weird relationship between Erik and Lyle themselves. But I believe the only physical contact they might have had is what Lyle testified, that when Lyle was 8 years old, he took Erik out in the woods and played with him with a toothbrush — which is what [their father] José had done with him. And so I certainly wouldn’t call that a sexual relationship of any sort. It’s a response to trauma.” So the fact that the show depicted two real-life victims of cruel and painful incest as voluntarily engaging in incestuous relationships has infuriated a lot of people.
In Response to the Show, How did the REAL Menendez Brothers React?
Erik, one of the brothers, released a statement regarding the show from his wife while he was in prison. He claimed the show was, “rooted in horrible and blatant lies.” Erik continued by stating, “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime has taken the painful truths several steps backward. 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.” He ends the note by saying, “Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth.”
The Case for their Exoneration:
Even those who find problems with how the Menendez brothers are portrayed in the show can find comfort in the fact that Murphey’s interpretation of their story has rekindled calls for their exoneration. The Menendez brother’s exoneration has become a cause for many in the thriving true crime community on TikTok, where a lot of content on the case has been posted. Murphey and co-creator Ian Brennan stated that this served as an inspiration for creating the show. Undoubtedly, the show’s popularity will encourage more people to watch its content and support them.
