Murder-convict Erik Menendez slams Netflix's 'Monsters' as a 'dishonest portrayal'
23 Sep 2024

Erik Menendez, who was convicted for the 1989 murder of his parents alongside his brother Lyle Menendez, has criticized Netflix and Hollywood producer Ryan Murphy for their new series Monsters.

The series, which is based on the infamous Menendez brothers case, has been described by Erik as a "dishonest portrayal" of the events surrounding their crime.

He expressed his disappointment through a statement shared on social media by his wife, Tammi Menendez.

'Caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies...'
Statement

In his statement, Menendez said, "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, "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."

Menendez brothers' trial captivated the nation
Historical context

The Menendez brothers' trial was a high-profile case that captivated the attention of the US.

The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder for the brutal killing of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. They were sentenced to life in prison.

The brothers claimed that they were victims of years-long physical, sexual, and emotional abuse by their father, which led to their violent actions.

'Monsters': Latest installment in Netflix's true-crime anthology
Netflix series

Monsters is the second installment in Netflix's true-crime anthology series, following the success of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story released last year.

The series features Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik Menendez, respectively. Oscar-winner Javier Bardem plays Jose, while Oscar nominee Chloe Sevigny stars as Kitty.

The first season of the anthology also faced backlash from some of Dahmer's victims' families for its portrayal of events.