Netflix's Monster Season 2 titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story finally has a review from real-life figures Lyle and Erik Menendez. Surprisingly, the two brothers didn't feel right after watching how their story was depicted and fictionalized.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story follows the controversial murder of José and Kitty Menendez at the hands of their two sons in Beverly Hills, California. It shows that Lyle and Erik Menendez were the victims of se*ual, physical, and emotional abuse since childhood, but the real-life brothers claim Ryan Muphy painted an inaccurate picture.
Lyle and Erik Menendez strongly condemn Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and believe the anthology series isn't just "horrible" but also "inaccurate about the facts" of their lives. The Facebook post on Lyle Menendez's page reads:
In Erik's words, "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. I can only believe they were done so on purpose."
The post continues to talk about Murphy's work:
"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."
Erik Menendez has expressed crushing disappointment over "Netflix's dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding" their crime. He believes that the portrayal of him and his elder brother has disrespected the pain and suffering they endured for a long period.
Erik Menendez claimed Ryan Murphy's anthology series has wasted his and Lyle Menendez's decades-long efforts to highlight childhood trauma and abuse. The brothers aren't happy with the creative liberties taken to portray the two brothers, as the real-life figures feel troubled after watching those nine episodes.
Lyle Menendez expressed frustration over Ryan Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
While Erik Menendez explained how the anthology series frames a negative image, Lyle Menendez questioned the writers for diverting from the facts.
In another post, Lyle Menendez talked about the real-life testimony and how his portrayal in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story felt completely made up.
The 56-year-old wrote on his Facebook page:
Not only the real-life figures, but Netflix users who've watched the true-crime series also spoke about their experience and shared mixed opinions online. User @Chungiiie on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:
"The Menendez brothers were victims of sexual abuse who finally retaliated against their abusers and this disgusting piece of trash has turned their story into an incestuous fanfic. Hell is not hot enough for Ryan Murphy."
The post includes a scene from Murphy's latest series in which Lyle and Erik Menendez's relationship has been fictionalized. Another user @NyeletiChauke__ wrote:
"The depiction of their story is wrong, I hate this for them 💔 these men didn’t deserve what happened to them as children, they should’ve been free by now 😓 #MonstersNetflix Netflix"
Following the controversial post from Lyle and Erik Menendez on the Netflix anthology series, one user posted:
While many viewers will agree with Lyle and Erik Menendez, others who have watched Ryan Murohy's previous works shared positive reviews. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story opened with a vibrant day in episode 1, with the Menendez brothers giving the eulogy after their parents died, followed by Erik having suicidal nightmares.
The true-crime series also featured Erik Menendez's psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Oziel, to whom the 18-year-old confessed to shooting down José and Kitty Menendez in 1989. The series ended with episode nine titled Hang Men in which Erike and Lyle Menendez were given lifetime sentences despite the brothers' claims that they were tortured and weren't taken care of.
Is Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story pure fiction?
No, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monster season 2 isn't entirely fictionalized, as it's based on a true story. However, the creators did enjoy creative liberty and made certain changes in the true-crime series.
Viewers are criticizing the series over the dramatization of Lyle and Erik Menendez's relationship. They two seemed too close and even shared a kiss, which didn't sit well with many.
Additionally, journalist Dominick Dunne in Monsters Season 2 claimed that Erik and Lyle executed their parents because they were in love. However, the real-life journalist never suggested this theory during the trials.
In the 1995 trial, Lyle confessed molesting Erik when they were kids. But in the Netflix series, the brothers have consensual interactions. Overall, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is generating mixed reviews, while the real-life Menendez brothers have expressed grave discontent.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is streaming on Netflix.
Reply
