True crime fans have slammed Netflix’s upcoming series Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story.
The show, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, centers on the 1989 murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez, who were killed by their sons Lyle and Erik.
Starring Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny, the series is the second season of the Monster anthology.
It also stars Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik Menendez.
It was released after the success of 2020’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, about the life and crimes of notorious serial killer Jeffery Dahmer.
Fans criticized the series’ title ahead of its global release on September 19.
On Facebook, they argued that Joseph and Erik were not “monsters” but rather victims of physical and sexual abuse by their father, Joseph.
“I hate that it’s called Monsters,” one fan complained. “Yes, these kids did the wrong thing, but I honestly think it was justified for their parents to abuse, torture, and attack these kids their entire lives.”
True crime fans have slammed Netflix’s upcoming series Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story. Pictured are Chloe Sevigny and Javier Bardem, who star in the series.
“These kids were unjustly deprived of any chance to live a normal life. In my opinion, they got what they deserved: to free these kids.”
One said he would reserve judgment until the series premiere.
“I just hope they treat these men well and tell their story with dignity and honesty and don’t paint them as villains to create a more compelling story,” the fan wrote.
Another chimed in with a similar sentiment, arguing that the Monsters label could be applied to the way the media portrayed the brothers at the time of the trial.
“We’ll have to wait and see how they’re portrayed in the series, but I’m wondering if it’s called Monsters as in the way they were labeled in the media at the time of the case, not necessarily calling them monsters,” they wrote.
Another added that while Monsters was the name of the anthology series, labeling this particular story seemed “wrong.”
On Facebook, they argued that Joseph and Erik were not “monsters” but victims of physical and sexual abuse by their father Joseph.
“I hate that it’s called Monsters,” one fan complained. “Yes, these kids did the wrong thing, but I honestly think it was justified for their parents to abuse, torture, and attack these kids their entire lives.”
Another said they would reserve judgment until the series premiere.
“I understand that they copied the same format as the Dahmer series… but to simply call it MONSTERS is crazy,” they said.
“I don’t know much about his case, just the basics, but it seems wrong to me.”
Another fan criticized the Monster series in general, calling it “exploitative.”
‘It feels a little gross and exploitative to be making these true crime dramas, and after what happened with the Dahmer series, which didn’t consult with the victims’ families or even inform them, I doubt this story would be handled with grace.
Another chimed in with a similar sentiment, arguing that the Monsters label could be applied to the way the media portrayed the brothers at the time of the trial.
We’ll have to wait and see how they are portrayed in the series,’ they wrote.
Another chimed in with a similar sentiment, arguing that the Monsters label could be applied to the way the media portrayed the brothers at the time of the trial.
Joseph and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 of the murder of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez.
During the trial, the brothers testified that they committed the murders out of fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional and physical abuse.
However, prosecutors argued that they did so to inherit their father’s multimillion-dollar estate.
The brothers were first tried separately, with a jury for each of them. However, the jurors did not reach an agreement, so the trial was declared a mistrial.
For the second trial, they were tried together by a single jury that found them guilty after the judge excluded evidence of abuse for the defense.
Both brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
It was also announced this week that Charlie Hunnam will star in the next iteration of the series, playing notorious necrophile and murderer Ed Gein.
Joseph and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.