It was to be expected that Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez would spark controversy. After all, season 1 of the Netflix hit about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer already caused heated discussions. The vitriolic debate recently reached its climax when perpetrator Erik Menendez himself expressed his displeasure with the series. Showrunner Don’t let Ryan Murphy get away with it.
Erik Menendez is not allowed to watch Netflix, according to Monster makers
Murphy told Entertainment Tonight:
It is interesting that he makes such a statement, because he hasn’t seen the series. It’s just really hard to watch yourself in a show. […] He also does not mention that we devote 60 to 65 percent of the series to abuse and statements [der Menendez-Brüder] We are very cautious and show their appearance in court and let them speak openly.
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Murphy said it was also his job to present the viewpoints of the parents or of reporter Dominick Dunne. Dunne reported extensively on the Menendez trials in the mid-1990s.
Why shouldn’t Erik Menendez have seen Murphy’s series? According to the Hollywood Reporter, he does not have access to Netflix in Donovan Prison in California. As the report speculates, his wife told him about the series story.
Menendez recently claimed that Murphy’s series spread “terrible lies” about the victims of sexual abuse. Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents in August 1989 and have been serving a life sentence for over 20 years. According to their own statements, their father abused them regularly.