A battle of statements has erupted between the Menendez brothers and the actors from Ryan Murphy’s latest Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
This past weekend, Erik Menendez took to his wife Tammi Menendez’s X (formerly Twitter) account to express his discontent with the series.
“I believed we had moved beyond the lies and damaging character portrayals of Lyle, which have turned him into a caricature based on horrific and blatant falsehoods in this show. I can only conclude these were presented deliberately,” he stated. “It pains me to say that I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this unaware and inaccurate regarding the truth of our lives, implying there is ill intent behind these portrayals.”
Erik’s response to the Netflix series.#NetflixMonsters #Netflix #RyanMurphy pic.twitter.com/Xz1waxA2u3
— Tammi Menendez (@TammiMenendez1) September 20, 2024
In response to Erik Menendez’s criticism, Ryan Murphy spoke with Entertainment Tonight and questioned why the incarcerated brother would release a statement “without having seen the show.”
“The interesting thing he does not mention in his statement is that if you watch the show, I’d estimate that around 60 to 65% of our scripts focus on the abuse and what they claim transpired,” Murphy explained. “We approach this very sensitively, allowing them to present their case and speak freely about it.”
One of the most contentious plotlines in Monsters features an inappropriate relationship between the two brothers, including a scene where they share an intimate moment in the shower. Murphy emphasized that the series is rooted in the perspectives and theories of those involved in the case, like journalist Dominick Dunne.
Nathan Lane, who portrays Dunne, suggested that Menendez should “probably see it” before voicing further opinions.
Cooper Koch, the actor playing Erik in the series, expressed understanding towards the real-life Erik, noting the challenge of reliving traumatic moments on-screen. “I empathize with him completely. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have such a harrowing part of your life broadcasted for millions to witness. I get it,” Koch shared via Variety. “In preparing for this role, I focused on thorough research and self-reflection to portray him with integrity and authenticity, supporting both him and his family.”
Monsters has quickly become the most popular show on Netflix.