The new Netflix drama “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” has sparked controversy after one of the real-life men it is based on criticized the show. The series, which stars Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez as the Menendez brothers, has quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s streaming chart since its release last week.
The show follows the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who infamously killed their parents in 1989. The brothers claimed they committed the murders in self-defense after years of alleged abuse, while the prosecution argued they did it for financial gain. The brothers were eventually convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Despite its popularity, the show has faced criticism from some critics, with reviews describing it as “exhausting and repetitive” and a “messy, salacious slog.” However, the show’s creators, including Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, defend their portrayal of the story, saying they made efforts to show things from all perspectives, including the parents’.
In response to the criticism from Erik Menendez, Murphy stated that the show carefully portrays the abuse the brothers claimed to have suffered and gives them their day in court. He also emphasized the importance of showing the parents’ perspective based on their research.
The controversy surrounding “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” highlights the challenges of adapting real-life tragedies for entertainment and the importance of presenting all sides of a story.
