Ryan Murphy, the creator of Netflix's new series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has responded to sharp criticism from Erik Menendez, one of the infamous Menendez brothers. Menendez, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 1989 murders of his parents, accused the series of being a "dishonest portrayal" of the events that led to his conviction.
In an open letter posted on X (formerly Twitter) on September 19, Menendez, 53, expressed frustration with the show, suggesting that it misrepresented both his life and the trauma he endured. "I believe we have 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," Menendez wrote. He emphasized his belief that these inaccuracies were intentional, adding, "I can only believe they were done so on purpose... How demoralizing to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma."
Menendez's principal grievance with the series stems from its treatment of the sexual abuse he and his brother Lyle claim to have endured at the hands of their father, José Menendez. He also criticized a subplot in the show that suggests the brothers may have engaged in an incestuous relationship, calling the portrayal damaging and untrue. "It's hard for me to know that Netflix's dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime... have taken the painful truths several steps backwards," he added.
However, Ryan Murphy, the 58-year-old television producer behind the show, rejected the accusations. In an interview with Deadline, Murphy responded to Menendez's remarks with skepticism, pointing out that Menendez has not actually seen the series. "I think that's interesting because I know he hasn't watched the show. So I find that curious. I hope he does watch it," Murphy said. He went on to praise the actor Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez in the series, adding, "I think if he did, he would be incredibly proud of Cooper Koch."
Murphy emphasized that the series aims to explore the complexity of the Menendez case, which has captivated public attention for more than three decades. "It’s a 30- to 35-year-old case," Murphy explained. "We show many, many, many perspectives. That’s what the show does in every episode. You are given a new theory based on people who were either involved or covered the case."
One of the more controversial aspects of the show, and a focal point of Menendez's criticism, is the suggestion of an incestuous relationship between the brothers. Murphy acknowledged that this storyline has sparked significant debate, but defended the show's approach, stating, "There are people who say that never happened. There were people who said it did happen." He further clarified that the intention of the series is not to provide a definitive narrative but to present multiple perspectives on a case that remains shrouded in mystery.
Murphy also defended the show's focus on the alleged abuse the brothers experienced. "60 to 65 percent of [the show] centers around Erik and Lyle Menendez talking about their abuse," he said. Murphy stressed that one of the key objectives of the series was to shed light on an issue that is rarely discussed in mainstream culture—male sexual abuse. "Our view and what we wanted to do was present you all the facts and have you do two things: make up your own mind about who's innocent, who's guilty, and who's the monster, and also have a conversation about something that's never talked about in our culture."
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the latest installment in Murphy's Monsters anthology series, which previously explored the life of Jeffrey Dahmer. The series revisits the high-profile Menendez case, which saw Lyle and Erik Menendez convicted for the brutal murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home. The brothers claimed they were driven to kill their parents after enduring years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their father—a defense that has remained the subject of heated debate since the trial.
The series has reignited public interest in the case, with the official Netflix description encouraging viewers to reconsider who the real "monsters" are in this tragic story. Nicholas Alexander Chavez portrays Lyle Menendez, while Cooper Koch plays Erik Menendez. Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem takes on the role of José Menendez.