The mastermind behind Netflix’s newest crime series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Ryan Murphy, has doubled down on his interpretation of the infamous court case following weeks of criticisms from the family. This time around, Murphy claims to be the reason behind their recent rise to prominence.
ICYMI, the true crime world has been buzzing following the release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which follows the case of the Menendez brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. However, the pair claimed the crime was a result of physical and sexual abuse which they’d suffered from their father.
However, since the show’s premiere, Murphy has been slammed by the Menendez family, who labelled the series as a “phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare.”
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy said he believed that his newest series delivered on what he wanted to convey to audiences, despite the harsh criticism he copped from the family.
“Yes, 100 per cent. Ian Brennan [the co-creator of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story] and I set out to do exactly want to do,” he began.
Following that statement, the Hollywood powerhouse continued to share his thoughts on the Menendez brothers, sharing that he believed he was responsible for the surge of attention the pair have received in the last weeks.
“The Menendez brothers should be sending me flowers,” he continued.
“They haven’t had so much attention in 30 years. And it’s gotten the attention of not only this country, but all over the world.
“There’s sort of an outpouring of interest in their lives and in the case. I know for a fact that many people have offered to help them because of the interest of my show and what we did.”
This isn’t the first time the entertainment star has defended the controversial series, nor claimed to have boosted the case of the Menendez brothers across the globe.
Following the show’s release, Tammi Menendez — the wife of Erik — released a statement to X on behalf of the brothers and Joan VanderMolen, Erik’s aunty.
In the statement, the family slammed Murphy’s series, describing it as a “character assassination” of the brothers.
“Our family has been victimized by his grotesque shockadrama,” the statement reads.
This is the official response from Joan VanderMolen (Erik's Aunt) and the Menendez Family to the Netflix Series" "Monsters, the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and to Ryan Murphy.#Menendez #NetflixMonsters #RyanMurphy pic.twitter.com/o7KEOEoYwr
— Tammi Menendez (@TammiMenendez1) September 26, 2024
Following the Menendez family statement, Ryan fired back at the brothers during a red carpet interview when a journo asked for his thoughts on the criticisms he’s clocked.
“I think it’s interesting that he’s issued a statement without having seen the show,” he told Entertainment Tonight.
“It’s really, really hard, if it’s your life, to see your life up onscreen.”
In a follow-up interview with Variety, Murphy said that the brothers are “being talked about by millions of people all over the world” and that the show gave the pair “another trial in the court of public opinion”.
I totally get retelling true crime stories and the world’s interest in the morbid. However, I feel like this series just gives me the heebeejeebees. Even the first season of the Monsters series — which retold the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer — did not sit well with me.
Erik and Lyle are currently serving time for the murders at California’s Donovan Correctional Facility. Following Murphy’s series, Netflix is gearing up to share its documentary on the Menendez Brothers on the 7th of October.
Image source: Getty Images
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