Ryan Murphy, the mastermind behind some of TV’s most talked-about series, has made a bold claim about his latest project. ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story‘ is the second installment in the ‘Monsters‘ anthology series on Netflix, following the success of ‘Dahmer.’
The show, which re-examines the infamous murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their two sons, has sparked plenty of conversation. The Menendez brothers’ case has been a source of public fascination since the shocking trial that gripped the nation in the 1990s. Now, decades later, Ryan Murphy’s re-telling of the story is reigniting discussions, but not everyone is thrilled about it, especially the Menendez brothers.
Ryan Murphy Hits Back At Menendez Brothers Claiming It Is “The Best Thing That Has Happened” To Them
The brothers, alongside their family members, have openly criticized the show’s portrayal. But Murphy? He’s standing firm. In a recent interview with People, Murphy stated that his series is “the best thing that has happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years.”
Erik Menendez and 24 of his family members weren’t shy about calling the show a “phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare.” But Murphy, unbothered by the backlash, isn’t backing down.
He sees the outrage as performative. “I feel like that’s faux outrage,” Murphy said, clearly unfazed by the harsh words. “We live in a culture of outrage… I’m used to being controversial. It’s not new to me.“
Related: ‘Monster’ Season 3: Who Was Serial Killer Ed Gein AKA The Butcher Of Plainfield?
In fact, Murphy believes that his show has done more for the Menendez brothers than anyone else in recent memory. “Their case is suddenly a water cooler conversation,” he remarked.
According to Murphy, the renewed attention could potentially lead to a re-examination of the case – something he sees as a positive development. “If we’re doing anything that can further a conversation about abuse and also ask, ‘Was that second trial fair?’ then I did my job.“
The Menendez Family Calls It “Character Assassination”
While Murphy might see his work as a public service, the Menendez family doesn’t agree. They called the show “repulsive” and accused it of “character assassination.”
But Murphy was quick to clap back. “How do you assassinate the character of two people who killed their own parents?” he fired back. His unapologetic stance is clear — the story was always going to be controversial, and he’s not shying away from that.
In Case You Missed It: Who Are The Menéndez Brothers Married To? Where Are They Now?
What’s interesting is that Murphy feels he gave Erik and Lyle more than enough screen time to air their side of the story. “65% of the show is dedicated to their point of view,” Murphy explained. “We say that over and over… so I don’t understand what the family can claim didn’t happen.“
The portrayal of the brothers as incestuous lovers is one of the most shocking elements of the series, and it’s caused a significant stir. But Murphy made it clear that this was just one aspect of the case’s “folkloric tapestry.”
He stressed that the show is not presenting this as absolute truth. “We’re not saying it happened, and we’re not saying it didn’t happen. We’re saying it was part of the case and how it might have swayed juries,” he said.
