Why Menendez brothers hate ‘vile’ Netflix hit based on their story

The Menendez brothers have slammed the Netflix series that’s seen renewed public interest in their case, labelling it “vile” and “appalling.”

Twenty-five years after they murdered their parents in a case that shocked the world, Lyle and Erik Menendez are once again back in the headlines

The brothers, who were jailed for life for brutally murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills home in 1989, could be out of prison within weeks after a bombshell statement from the chief prosecutor in Los Angeles.

George Gascón told a packed press conference on Thursday local time he would ask a judge to rule that the brothers should have their sentence reduced.

Renewed interest in their case has been sparked by a recent hit Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Both serving life sentences, Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) could be free men within weeks. Picture: AFP

The latest in superproducer Ryan Murphy’s swath of fictionalised true crime series, Monsters was an instant hit on the streamer, but has also been met with a barrage of criticism from critics and viewers who’ve found it tawdry and exploitative.

The show is heavy on the homoerotic subtext between the brothers, who have always claimed that they killed their parents as a result of horrific sexual and physical abuse they suffered at the hands of their father.

L to R: Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story. Picture: Miles Crist/Netflix

And as the show soared to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts in recent weeks, Erik Menendez issued a furious public statement from prison, denouncing both Murphy and Netflix.

His statement, in full:

“I believed we had 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. 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.

“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 sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women. Those awful lies have been disputed and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out. So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander.

“Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth. How demoralising to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma. Violence is never an answer, never a solution, and is always tragic. As such, I hope it is never forgotten that violence against a child creates a hundred horrendous and silent crime scenes darkly shadowed behind glitter and glamour and rarely exposed until tragedy penetrates everyone involved. To all those who have reached out and supported me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Actor Cooper Koch, who plays Erik in Monsters, publicly responded to the criticism from the real-life person he plays in a recent TV interview.

Cooper Koch (right) says he empathises with Erik’s complaints. Picture: Miles Crist/Netflix

Erik has released a furious statement from prison. Picture: Netflix

“[Erik’s reaction] definitely affected me, and it made me feel things,” he said. “I sympathise with him, I empathise with him. I get it. I understand how difficult it would be to have the worst part of your life be televised for millions of people to see. It’s so exposing. I understand how he feels, and I stand by him.”

But it seems Erik’s brother Lyle may not share his outright disdain for Monsters. In another recent interview, Koch revealed that since the show aired, Lyle had even praised him for his portrayal of his brother in one of the season’s most talked-about episodes.

The show’s fifth episode “The Hurt Man” has at its centrepiece an extended, one-take monologue from Koch, as his character details the abuse he says they suffered from their father. Viewers have praised Koch’s extraordinary performance in the episode, which is garnering award show buzz.

“I talked to Lyle quite frequently and he did tell me he finally watched episode five and it was very emotional for him and he just told me I did a great job,” Koch said. “He said I got Erik, so that was really rewarding.”