Erik and Lyle Menendez shocked the world with the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their multi-million dollar Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. Initially seen as cold-blooded killers, the Menendez brothers later claimed that they were driven to commit the murders after enduring years of severe emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Now, 35 years later, Netflix has brought the case back into the spotlight with two extremely different portrayals: “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and “The Menendez Brothers.”
Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is part of Murphy’s well-known “Monsters” series that retells some of the most infamous criminal cases and killers in American history. However, Murphey’s retelling of the Menendez case has sparked widespread controversy as it was a blatantly dramatized retelling of the brothers’ lives leading up to the murders. The docuseries has been criticized for abruptly switching back and forth between portraying the brothers as either victims of horrific abuse or manipulative criminals. It emphasizes moments like when the brothers went on a shopping spree following the murder of their parents––Lyle buying a Porsche and the brothers splurging on clothes and jewelry—that support the idea that they were, indeed, monsters.
One of the most controversial aspects of “Monsters” is its depiction of the Menedez brothers’ relationship, implying an incestuous bond between Erik and Lyle. While there is no evidence to support this, the inclusion of such a storyline has drawn extreme criticism. Many feel that it sensationalizes an already complex case, undermining the traumatic abuse that the brothers endured for almost the entirety of their lives. Erik Menendez, through his wife’s social media account, even publicly stated how deeply disturbing and false the portrayal of them was.
In contrast, Netflix’s recent documentary “The Menendez Brothers” focuses more on court footage and interviews with people directly involved in the case, including Erik and Lyle Menendez themselves. Unlike the dramatized “Monsters” documentary that relied heavily on assumptions, “The Menendez Brothers” is a much more factual retelling. The documentary also highlighted the way public opinion has shifted over the years. At the time of the trial, many viewers saw the brothers as cold-blooded killers. However, over time, and with the rise of social media, there has been a growth in people who sympathize with the brothers’ accounts of abuse. They were seen less as “spoiled rich kids,” and instead more as victims of a dysfunctional, abusive household. Clips of the brothers’ trial and discussions about their guilt or innocence have gained attention, particularly on platforms like TikTok.
“I see their case all over TikTok and Instagram,” Ashley Croft (11), true crime fanatic, said. “I think most people actually side with the Menendez brothers, especially since they haven’t been released from prison yet. I also believe their case was quite unfair, [and] their abuse was really overlooked.”
Even with this newfound sympathy, conflicting viewpoints are always inevitable, especially on social media. Some still antagonize Erik and Lyle and view them as murderers who killed to protect themselves, while others believe the brothers should be freed considering the special circumstances of the situation.
“I feel like because of the trauma they faced, the sentence should have been less severe,” Chloe Cho (12), social media user, said. “We even see on the news that Lyle graduated from UC Irvine, was a good person, and is currently trying to improve living situations in prison. This shows the type of people they are; they should have the option for parole.”
