S Poddar
An opinion debate, the Menendez case remains one of the most intriguing murder cases in the USA today. In 1989, the affluent Menendez family was shaken to its very core when its parents, Jose and Kitty, were brutally murdered in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons, Erik and Lyle, eventually stood before a judge to be convicted of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This case, marked by its shocking details and the brothers’ claims of abuse, has captured the public imagination for decades.
It’s been pretty refreshing to see Netflix find new life in the tale of the Menendez brothers through its latest series, Monsters, courtesy of Ryan Murphy. This series continues to chronicle the terrifying events within which those brothers were convicted of murder and discusses at length the supposed reasons for that crime, as well as how the highly politicized trial was factored into that verdict. Well, the show has been a ratings success, but it’s received some hard-hitting criticisms from those closest to the brothers:
Erik and Lyle’s extended family delivered a scathing statement condemning Monsters;, calling it “gross” and “full of mistruths.” They claim that the series gives an untrue narrative and ignores recent revelation that would exonerate the brothers. The family said that they never watched the show while in production and that character assassinations of Erik and Lyle are “disgusting.”.
Their own statements suggest that the family firsthand knows of the abuses Erik and Lyle allegedly endured. A number of them claim to be “eyewitnesses” to the “atrocities” in which the brothers grew up. They maintain that Murphy does not appreciate long-term abuse and childhood trauma, in which case the movie Monsters is about him.
Eric and Lyle’s wives, Tammi and Leslie, have also attacked the series. Tammi, married to Eric in 1999, has published several messages on her own social media, where she has stated her husband’s pain from the show. She says that Monsters perpetuates a “caricature” of Lyle based on “horrible and blatant lies.” Eric called out Murphy himself for eroding decades of work put into raising awareness about childhood trauma.
Although controversy accompanies the series, one thing remains true: the story of the Menendez brothers is always on the public’s mind. The case draws into question what constitutes abuse, the justice system, and the reality that family ties do not break. While the brothers are behind bars with their life sentences, there is debate on guilt, the circumstances behind the murder of the parents, and little can be said about how it all ended.
In addition to Monsters, the brothers will star in a documentary about the Menendez brothers for Netflix. The documentary will be known as The Menendez Brothers, which airs on October 7. According to Hulu, that will give them a chance to tell their own version of their story in their own words.
The case of the Menendez brothers is a highly complex tragic matter. The truth remains unknown, but the argument over the series and also the documentary is proof of how powerful storytelling has managed to hold public interest for so long in these cases that have connected directly with the true-crime stories.
