Monsters on Netflix: Family of Menendez brothers calls Ryan Murphy series disgusting

The Menendez family, whose members Lyle and Erik spent 35 years in prison for the murders of their parents, Jose and Keith Menendez, expressed their outrage at the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. This play, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, was strongly criticized by those close to the two brothers, who condemned the series.Phobic, anachronistic“And it is full of lies.

In a statement shared on social media by Eric’s wife, Tammy Menendez, on September 26, 2024, the brothers’ aunt, Joanne Vandermolen, spoke on behalf of the 24 extended family members. The emotional letter demands the release of the two brothers after more than three decades in prison, while strongly condemning the portrayal of the case in the series.

According to Vandermolen, “Ryan Murphy never contacted us, the family, to hear our side of the story,” adding that the series tarnishes their nephews’ image.

The final denouement of the series

The family accuses Murphy of using biased sources, including in the series Dominic Dunne (played by Nathan Lane), a journalist who sides with the prosecution. According to them, these sources are full of false information, especially ignoring recent revelations to protect the brothers. The series is calledAn episodic nightmare“Which belies the very real atrocities that Lyle and Eric suffered as children.

Joan Vandermolen notes that several family members witnessed the abuse of the two boys, abuse that the brothers say justified their actions.

Indeed, during the trials, the Menendez brothers claimed they were acting out of fear for their lives after years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by their father, Jose. However, this defense was not enough to get them life imprisonment. Today, their family continues to defend that version, and the Murphy series, they say, minimizes the abuse and offers a biased and sensationalized view of the case.

Attack on Ryan Murphy

The indignation of the family does not end with the TV series. Joan Vandermolen ends the letter by directly attacking Ryan Murphy, accusing him of not understanding the impact of abuse on victims. “Maybe monsters are just Ryan Murphy after all“, he growled.

For his part, Ryan Murphy defended his work by saying that the series explores several points of view on the case, including the Menendez brothers’ point of view regarding the violence they suffered. He also noted that the trial opened the way for a public discussion of domestic sexual abuse.

Full translation of the tweet

“The family’s response: “We’re pretty much the whole Eric and Lyle Menendez family. We are 24 and want the world to know that we support Eric and Lyle. We individually and collectively pray for their release after 35 years of imprisonment. We know them, love them and want them in our home.

Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez is a phobic, disgusting, anachronistic, episodic serialized nightmare that is not only riddled with false truths and outright lies, but also ignores recent exculpatory revelations. Our family fell victim to this grotesque shock tragedy. Murphy claims to have spent years researching the case, but ultimately relied on Dominic Dunne, a reporter for the prosecution, to justify his libel against us, and he never talked.

The killing of Eric and Lyle, our nephews and cousins, under the guise of “historical history” is disgusting. We know these men. We grew up with them since childhood. We love them and are still close to them today. We also know what happened at home and the incredibly turbulent lives they led. Many of us have witnessed many atrocities that we should never have to witness.

It’s sad that Ryan Murphy, Netflix, and everyone involved in this series don’t understand the impact of years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Maybe monsters are just Ryan Murphy’s after all.’“