What did Erik Menendez say about Netflix's Monsters? Details explored as real-life killer breaks his silence about the show

Erik Menendez, one-half of the brothers convicted of murdering their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in 1989, has finally released a statement on the Netflix crime series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The series, which focuses on Erik, his brother, Lyle, and the events that led to them murdering their parents, premiered on September 19, 2024.

Erik, through a statement shared on Lyle’s Facebook page on September 20, spoke out against the show for their dishonest portrayal of the brothers and the destructive character representations. Erik’s wife Tammi shared his statement on her X account as well.

Far from being satisfied with the show, Erik remained distressed as he claimed that the show might promote damaging misconceptions regarding male trauma and se*ual assault.

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Erik Menendez's criticism of the Netflix series

The main complaint Erik had with Monsters is that he felt the show was intent on distorting his and his brother Lyle's lives. He felt that the show had carved out a caricature of their lives and it was based on "blatant lies."

Erik also claimed that he had a problem with how he and his brother, Lyle were portrayed in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. He criticized the creator of the show, Ryan Murphy for the "vile and appalling" characterization of the brother and hinted that it was done with evil intent.

“I can only believe they were done so on purpose. 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,” as per Erik.

Erik further added that the whole series takes several steps back in terms of apprehending and validating the nuances of male trauma, undoing the work of countless victims who have had the courage to speak out through the years.

As per the statement,

"It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward — back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not s*xually abused, and that males experienced r*pe trauma differently than women."

He further slammed Murphy for undermining the truth regarding their childhood trauma and for diminishing the progress that has been made over the years to raise awareness in this regard. Erik also shed light on how violence against children can ruin their lives and cause horrific tragedies.

He concluded the statement by expressing his gratitude to those who have supported him and his brother through their entire ordeal.

Erik Menendez's reaction to Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has brought forward much debate about the ethical responsibility of true crime narration. It also urges the makers of such shows to be more mindful while portraying reality without sensationalism and inaccuracy.

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Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Plot and cast

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second season of Ryan Murphy's true crime anthology series, Monsters. After the success of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the second season navigates the infamous case of brothers Lyle and Erik.

The official synopsis of the plot as per Netflix reads:

"They looked like a perfect family, but secrets hid behind closed doors. This true-crime drama delves into one of California's most infamous cases."

The main cast includes Nicholas Chavez, who has appeared in General Hospital, as Lyle Menendez, and Erik Menendez, played by Cooper Koch, known for his roles in Swallowed and They/Them. Their abusive father, José Menendez is portrayed by Javier Bardem, and Chloë Sevigny plays Kitty Menendez, the mother.

The supporting cast includes Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, the Vanity Fair journalist who covered the trials, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, the brothers' defense attorney, Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel, Erik's psychologist, and Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth, an important figure in the brothers' arrest.

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Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently streaming on Netflix.