Ryan Murphy Responds to Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Backlash

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Ryan Murphy Responds to Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Backlash

As a devoted fan with a penchant for true crime series, I must admit that Ryan Murphy’s latest offering, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has certainly stirred quite the controversy upon its release. Having followed the Menendez brothers’ case since its inception, I find myself intrigued by Murphy’s response to the backlash.

Ryan Murphy addresses the criticism that emerged following the debut of Monsters’ second season, which was released on Thursday, September 19. Entitled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, this true crime show revolves around the actual case involving two brothers who were found guilty of murdering their own parents.

The longtime television producer shared his reaction to the backlash his new true crime series has received, especially Erik Menendez’s criticism towards the show’s portrayal of his older brother, Lyle Menendez. 

What did Ryan Murphy say about Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story criticism?

Ryan shared with E! News that it’s surprising for him to hear Erik’s critique of the show since he’s certain Erik hasn’t seen it. However, he hopes that Erik eventually watches it. If he does, Ryan believes Erik would be extremely proud of Cooper Koch who portrays his character.

Murphy commented, “I believe the series is extremely intriguing – it aims to present numerous viewpoints. Each episode introduces a fresh theory, stemming from individuals who were directly or indirectly associated with the case.

In the series, Koch was cast as Erik, a role previously held by General Hospital’s Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle. Notably, Javier Bardem took on the character of José, while Chloë Sevigny played the part of Kitty Menendez.

In simpler terms, Murphy expressed that while everyone knows the tragic outcome involving two victims who were brutally shot, our goal was to provide you with all relevant facts. We wanted you to form your own opinions regarding innocence, guilt, and the perpetrator, as well as engage in a discussion about a seldom-discussed topic within our culture – male sexual abuse. We will ensure this conversation is handled sensitively and thoughtfully.

He emphasized that “approximately 60 to 65% of the program revolves around Erik and Lyle Menendez discussing their abuse, their victimization, and the emotional toll it took on them.” He further stated that they had “had their day in court, so now we’re also hearing more about it from them.

The sequel to “Murphy’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” is what we have here. This series was similarly subjected to widespread criticism, particularly from the families of the serial killer’s victimized title character, due to its exploitation of a sorrowful and horrifying narrative that they found distasteful for profiteering purposes.

The producer explained, “This is what I’m accustomed to – discussing topics that are thought-provoking and contentious. My philosophy is simply ‘neither whine nor justify.’

The interview follows, as Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, expressed similar feelings regarding the new program. Currently, both Lyle and Erik are incarcerated, having been found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the deaths of their parents, José and Kitty.

All nine episodes of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story are available to stream on Netflix.

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2024-09-24 18:42