The Netflix true crime drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has attracted criticism for its portrayal of the events surrounding one of America’s most infamous murders.
Since hitting screens last week, the series about the notorious Menendez brothers has stirred controversy among both viewers and Erik Menendez, one of the brothers it portrays.
Following the harrowing tale of 1989 when Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents, Jose and Kitty, under the guise of self-defense against abuse, leading to a trial that gripped the nation, the series has generated complaints over alleged inaccuracies and suggestions of incest between the siblings.
Currently serving a life sentence without parole, Erik Menendez voiced his disapproval via a Facebook page administered by supporters of Lyle.
“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,” stated Menendez on his objection to the depiction, reports the Mirror.
Deeply disappointed with the dramatic liberties taken, he continued, “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.”
He voiced his frustration, 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…
“So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander.”
Questioning the series’ intentions, he added: “Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth”, while condemning the show for its purported misrepresentation and acknowledging gratitude for the support given to him.
Tammi Menendez, spouse of Erik Menendez, shared these views on X (formerly Twitter ), criticising the contentious Netflix show.
Regretfully, she noted: “I’m sorry to know I was right,” and castigated the programme: “The Netflix show was [an] insane perversion of the truth and a complete and tragic misrepresentation of Erik and Lyle!”
At their trial, where they faced accusations for the murder of their parents, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, then 21 and 18 years old, claimed long-term sexual abuse by their father Jose starting at six-years-old.
Social media has since become a platform for family members expressing outrage over how the series portrays the brothers’ relationship, denouncing it as “absurd” and “pure evil”.
An irate viewer expressed their dismay, saying, per IndieWire: “They had a plethora of material to draw from, and this is what they chose to do????? It’s laughable. It’s pathetic. And it is re-victimizing.
“It is imaginary. It is fiction. And to put out into the world the absurd notion that the brothers were lovers is the height of pure evil. How convenient that the new evidence was never brought up!
“The truth is that I have no idea what I just watched because it bears no resemblance to reality or the human beings I know. […] Why don’t male sexual assault victims come forward? Because they are afraid to run into the likes of the people who created this trash.”
Netflix has not issued any statement regarding the backlash and has been approached for comment.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is available to stream on Netflix.