As a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I find it extremely disheartening to see yet another true story about survivors being sensationalized and twisted for the sake of entertainment. The portrayal of the Menendez brothers’ relationship in Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” is not only offensive but also deeply harmful.
Trigger warning: This article mentions sexual abuse.
The latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s “Monster” anthology series is drawing criticism just a day after its release, similar to the backlash faced by the first season focusing on Jeffrey Dahmer.
The Netflix series titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” debuted on September 19th and quickly climbed to the top of the most-watched shows within mere hours. This new season of the true crime anthology series offers a reinterpretation of the infamous murders committed by the Menendez brothers against their parents, as well as the subsequent trial that led to them serving life sentences without parole.
Given that past series by Murphy have transformed real-life events with a touch of creative freedom, there was some contemplation regarding the Menendez brothers becoming the focus for the second season of Monsters. The concern revolved around how accurately their story would be portrayed and whether any editorializing or sensationalism might overshadow the profound themes that are central to the show.
Social media speaks up against Monsters kiss
As a gamer, I must admit that despite the game’s impressive ability to weave a captivating narrative from various perspectives, there’s one scene in episode 2 of Monsters that’s stirred up quite a storm among social media users. In this scene, after our characters Lyle (Nicholas Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch), who are left alone following their parents’ demise, decide to splurge on a hotel stay, Erik requests a modest room service order, labeling it as ‘conservative’. However, Lyle encourages his brother to seize the moment and even shares an unexpected kiss on the lips with him.
Just prior to their kiss in the scene, Lyle had been in another room using cocaine. This explains his erratic behavior throughout the scene. While this doesn’t excuse his actions, it provides additional context. It remains uncertain what the purpose of the kiss was and how it came about within this particular scene, but given the reactions it has caused, it is certainly a controversial element that many people find inappropriate.
On the day the show premiered, a post on X (previously Twitter) uploaded a scene snippet with the comment, “Naturally, it’s a Ryan Murphy production.” The video of this scene has garnered over 13 million views and continues to climb, along with thousands of likes, shares, quotes, and comments combined. Since becoming viral, the clip has sparked numerous reactions from social media users.
One popular comment with over 64K likes and counting reads, “The Menendez brothers were victims of sexual abuse who ultimately fought back against their abusers. Unfortunately, their story has been twisted into a distasteful fan fiction about incest.” Another user countered the initial post by saying, “It’s appalling to think that they were made into a joke in the 90s when recent evidence suggests it is highly probable that they suffered sexual abuse at the hands of their father.
Previews for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” initially showed Chavez and Koch without shirts, embracing each other. This raised eyebrows among viewers about the content that the show might present. Even the poster displayed the characters in similar fashion. For one viewer, these signs of intimacy became a reality: “I knew it was going to be written this way when I saw the cover with them shirtless and together – ew.
Alleged response from Erik Menendez and family
A report from The Tab claims that Erik Menendez, through social media accounts thought to be his wife Tammi Saccoman’s, has issued a statement refuting the false depictions of Lyle’s character, as he sees it. It is expected that an officially confirmed response will be made available later on.
Discussions about this particular scene in the show are delicate due to its exploration of genuine people’s struggles with trauma stemming from parental sexual abuse. The Menendez family has expressed strong disapproval towards the portrayal of incestuous scenes between the brothers, labeling it as “the epitome of pure wickedness.
It’s not surprising that the reaction is similar to what occurred when Netflix debuted Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story about two years ago.
If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.
Watch Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story only on Netflix.
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2024-09-20 20:33