Ryan Murphy Responds to Menéndez Brother’s Backlash
Lyle and Erik Menéndez may not be pleased with ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story’, which depicts their lives, but co-creator Ryan Murphy believes they should view the series differently. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy said that he and co-creator Ian Brennan accomplished their intended goal with the show, adding, “The Menéndez brothers should be sending me flowers.” He emphasised that the series has brought renewed global attention to their case, which has led to offers of help for the brothers.
Murphy noted that he never expected the brothers or their legal teams to agree that the show was a “wonderful, accurate depiction” of their lives, explaining that his focus was broader than just Erik and Lyle. The series, which premiered in September, revisits the notorious 1989 murders of their parents, Kitty and José Menéndez, for which the brothers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996.
Image Courtesy: People
While Murphy claims the show addresses sensitive issues like male sexual abuse responsibly, Erik Menéndez, through a statement from his wife, Tammi Menéndez, criticised the portrayal. Erik expressed disappointment, accusing the show of perpetuating falsehoods and distorting their story.
Murphy responded by stating that the series also covers the lives of other key figures, such as Dominick Dunne and the Menéndez parents, and that they had a responsibility to tell multiple perspectives. He expressed frustration with the brothers’ complaints, calling their victimhood narrative “reprehensible.”
Despite the backlash, Murphy praised actors Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch for their empathetic performances as Lyle and Erik, recognizing the complexity of the story and the multiple truths involved. ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story’ is currently streaming on Netflix.
–Farheen Ali