The backlash in opposition to Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters simply retains coming — and now the solid has spoken out in protection of their scripted present about Lyle and Erik Menéndez‘s notorious homicide case.

Season 2 of the hit Netflix sequence debuted in September and chronicled Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik’s (Cooper Koch) 1989 arrest for the homicide of their mother and father, José (Javier Bardem) and Kitty (Chloë Sevigny). Taking inspiration from footage of the trial and subsequent interviews, Monsters mirrored key moments from Lyle and Erik’s lives earlier than and after they had been sentenced to life with out parole for taking pictures their mom and father.

Episodes 4 and 5 obtained essential and fan reward for introducing Erik and Lyle’s claims that they killed their mother and father in self-defense following years of alleged bodily, emotional and sexual abuse. Just like season 1 of Monster — which was centered round Evan Peters‘ portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer — the present got here beneath fireplace for a number of inaccuracies concerning the Menéndez brothers, together with the insinuation that they had been in a sexual relationship.

Erik launched an announcement slamming Murphy’s manufacturing sooner or later after it was launched.

“I believed we had moved past the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, making a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant likes rampant within the present,” learn an announcement from Erik that was shared by way of Lyle’s Fb web page. “I can solely imagine they had been performed so on function. It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say, I imagine Ryan Murphy can’t be this naive and inaccurate concerning the info of our lives in order to do that with out dangerous intent.”

Erik expressed frustration with how his and Lyle’s views had been portrayed, including, “It’s unhappy for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths a number of steps backward — again by means of time to an period when the prosecution constructed a story on a perception system that males weren’t sexually abused, and that males skilled rape trauma in another way than girls.”

He continued: “These terrible lies have been disrupted and uncovered by numerous courageous victims over the past 20 years who’ve damaged by means of their private disgrace and bravely spoken out. So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative by means of vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander. Is the reality not sufficient?”

Murphy and a number of other solid members acknowledged Erik’s displeasure with their interpretation of the high-profile case. The creator, nonetheless, has stood by the imaginative and prescient that got here collectively on display screen after loads of analysis.

“There have been 4 folks concerned [in the case],” he instructed Leisure Tonight. “Two of them are useless. What concerning the mother and father? We had an obligation as storytellers to additionally attempt to put of their perspective based mostly on our analysis, which we did.”

Preserve scrolling for every thing the solid stated concerning the backlash in opposition to the present — together with these incest insinuations:

Ryan Murphy

Murphy has defended how Monsters tried to not choose a facet.

“I believe it’s fascinating that he’s issued an announcement with out having seen the present. It’s actually, actually laborious — if it’s your life — to see your life up on display screen,” he shared with ET in September. “Should you watch the present, I might say 60 to 65 % [of the content centers] across the abuse and what they declare occurred to them. And we do it very fastidiously and we give them their day in court docket and so they discuss overtly about it.”

Murphy additionally pushed again about these incest insinuations, telling Selection, “Should you watch the present, what the present is doing is presenting the factors of view and theories from so many individuals who had been concerned within the case. [Vanity Fair journalist] Dominick Dunne [Nathan Lane] wrote a number of articles speaking about that concept. We’re presenting his standpoint. And we had an obligation to indicate all of that and we did.”

Nicholas Chavez

Throughout an unique interview with Us Weekly, Chavez mirrored on his expertise taking part in Lyle. “[Playing] Lyle Menéndez [on Monsters] necessitated extra considerate preparation since you wish to watch out and diligent with a personality like that,” he shared. “That is somebody who’s an actual particular person and who remains to be alive as we speak.”

Chavez was subsequently requested concerning the incest drama, telling Selection, “It’s a extremely fascinating query, and it was one thing that we mentioned fairly a bit as a part of this challenge, however finally it is a query that’s truthfully finest reserved for Ryan and the creators of the present.”

Nathan Lane

Monsters featured a sequence the place Dunne, who wrote concerning the trial for Self-importance Honest, talked about the siblings’ motives. After he recommended that the brothers had been hiding a secret earlier than the murders, the episode reduce to a scene of Kitty opening the lavatory door to find her sons having a shower collectively.

“There’s a cocktail party scene at Chateau Marmont, and Dominick’s discussing varied theories of what he thinks occurred with the brothers. At one level, that scene was initially 20 pages, and I talked about it much more. At one level, he says, ‘Maybe that is what occurred’ and means that there was an incestuous relationship between the 2 brothers, however that it had nothing to do with [their father] José, and that’s what [their mother] Kitty knew about,” Lane defined to Selection. “Nevertheless it’s simply him theorizing. He’s not saying that’s what occurred. He says that is another excuse why they could have killed them. However he’s simply posing one other concept.”

Lane urged viewers to recollect they’re watching “a dramatization and never a documentary” of a state of affairs.

“As Ryan has stated, they’ve proven all totally different factors of view about this case, and definitely they cowl Eric and Lyle discussing their sexual abuse by the hands of their father. So I believe you get many, many alternative opinions and factors of view about what occurred,” he continued. “In the end they’re the one ones who know for certain precisely what occurred. However I simply suppose the present is extraordinarily nicely written and fantastically acted by everyone.”

In response to a query about Erik’s response to the sequence, Lane inspired him to observe the present for himself.

“He hasn’t seen the present. He’s Simply criticizing it and condemning it with out ever having seen it, so one has to take that with a grain of salt,” he added. “Clearly, to have your life portrayed this manner in a Netflix miniseries — he wasn’t one of many producers, so not every thing is perhaps flattering or make you cheerful. However I might say you must most likely see it earlier than you converse out once more.”

Cooper Koch

Cooper’s brother, Payton Koch, reassured followers that the actor sympathizes with Erik.

“He cares immensely for the boys and stands with them and all victims of abuse. He did every thing he may to make sure their tales of abuse had been seen on display screen and I believe in episode 5, it’s abundantly clear the place he stands. Actors are solely vessels for the writers/producers of the present,” Payton shared by way of Instagram feedback in September. “Any true story portrayal goes to be robust, however please belief me after I say he does care about them and their story. ❤️‍🩹.”

Payton continued. “I completely perceive and listen to you. I’m glad you had been capable of see Erik in episode 5 and I can solely hope that individuals’s views are shifted to sympathize with the boys, regardless that the previous few episodes don’t painting them in one of the best gentle. Thanks for sharing and know you aren’t alone in the best way you are feeling 🫶🏼.”

Cooper launched his personal assertion concerning the incest hypothesis.

“I knew that this was a really controversial story, and that individuals had been going to be upset and affected by what they had been seeing. I believe although you do need to put it into context of the state of affairs, and that we’re kind of portray an image based mostly on what someone else’s perspective was,” he instructed Selection. “It’s not essentially the reality of what occurred. That’s simply what Dominick Dunne thinks and there I believe are different locations within the story the place it’s kind of planted to provide folks all of those totally different views and you already know.”

Cooper clarified that he “completely doesn’t” imagine the brothers had an incestuous relationship.

“I believe the aim of the present is to place all these views collectively and let the viewers be the jury. And on the finish of the present, you simply make your choice on what you imagine. And I believe it’s a extremely fascinating method of telling the story and simply storytelling normally,” Cooper continued. “I don’t suppose that’s true. And I don’t suppose it was meant by the present to make or break that fact. I believe that was only a concept that one particular person had and that acquired put into the present as a result of that particular person was a personality within the present. … I stand with Eric and every thing that he says in his testimony I imagine to be his fact, and I imagine him.”

On the time, Cooper admitted Erik’s response “positively affected” him.

“It made me really feel issues. I sympathize with him, I empathize with him. I get it. I perceive how tough it will be to have the worst a part of your life be televised for tens of millions of individuals to see. It’s so exposing,” the actor concluded. “I perceive how he feels and I stand by him. When it comes to approaching him and approaching the half, I simply actually wished to do as a lot analysis and dig actually deep into myself to actually painting him with integrity and simply be as genuine as attainable to assist him and in addition to assist his household and all of the individuals who stand with him.”

Chloe Sevigny

“I believe the entire creators and showrunners wished, firstly, for Nicholas and Cooper to really feel snug and to not do something that they didn’t wish to do. There have been folks there to guard them always on the units. And I stated, ‘So would you like me to do off-camera? Do you not need me to? Is it higher for you if I’m there or not there?’ All the things was performed to make sure that they felt protected and guarded, with intimacy coaches and so forth,” Sevigny shared in an announcement to Selection. “They had been allowed to chop and stroll away in the event that they ever wished to, and people boys had been so dedicated to the roles and the best way that Ian and Ryan wished to inform the story that they had been keen themselves to do nearly something. It was actually wonderful to observe them and the way invested they had been within the characters and the story. I simply felt like I used to be there to assist them.”

Javier Bardem

Regardless of not studying Erik’s criticism of the present, Bardem wasn’t stunned by the response.

“I do know he has spoken, however I haven’t learn it,” he famous to Selection. “However in fact it’s completely regular, logical and bonafide to say what you consider your individual life being on a present. I assist that. Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan give totally different views, totally different views of the identical challenge as a result of nothing is about in stone. That additionally contains the best way to carry out the character. We’ve to be open as actors to play and shift from one perspective to the opposite, relying on who’s telling the story.”

Leslie Grossman

“Because the creators have stated concerning the present, they’re making a portray, not a documentary,” the actress instructed Folks. “So, it isn’t a documentary retelling of this story. It’s kind of a Rashomon mixture of all these totally different folks’s views.”

Grossman famous that Murphy and the artistic crew took “such painstaking care” when creating the sequence. “Ryan had been engaged on this for some time. There was a variety of analysis concerned for years earlier than it was even written,” she continued. “Look, the reality is there’s solely 4 folks in the entire world that know precisely what occurred, proper? Two of them usually are not right here anymore. And I believe the sequence simply tries to indicate all of the factors of view, you already know what I imply? After which it’s finally for the viewers to resolve what they give thought to this.”

When a real crime case is making headlines, there are normally a number of packages masking the identical topic inside months of one another.

Not each duel launch is intentional, however subjects reminiscent of Sherri Papini‘s kidnapping case and Erik Menéndez and Lyle Menéndez‘s notorious homicide trial are nice examples of a number of protection on the identical high-profile scenario.

Papini made headlines in 2016 after she was allegedly kidnapped whereas going for a jog in her California neighborhood. She resurfaced 22 days later, which is when Papini claimed she had been crushed and branded by her captors. As new particulars emerged after her return, Papini was finally arrested in 2022 for orchestrating her abduction. She pleaded responsible to a federal decide later that 12 months and was sentenced to 18 months in jail for committing mail fraud and mendacity to a federal officer about being kidnapped.

Papini’s case was explored in Hulu’s Excellent Spouse: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini, which debuted in June 2024. Sherri’s now-ex-husband Keith Papini and several other of her relations and family members participated within the docuseries. One month after Excellent Spouse began streaming, Investigation Discovery introduced an upcoming docuseries the place Sherri will communicate out for the primary time in regards to the controversy. The present will debut in 2025.

In the meantime, the Menéndez brothers have been arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree homicide after their mother and father — José and Kitty — have been discovered shot to dying of their residence. Two trials resulted in Erik and Lyle being sentenced to life with out parole whereas they maintained that their mom and father have been bodily, emotionally and sexually abusive.

Their case obtained renewed assist in September 2024 after turning into the main focus of Murphy’s Monsters collection. Monsters got here below fireplace for a number of scenes alluding to an incestuous relationship between Lyle and Erik. Lower than one week after Monsters was launched, Netflix introduced that Lyle and Erik have been interviewed for The Menéndez Brothers documentary. The October 2024 launch contains footage from conversations with juror Betty Oldfield, Kitty’s sister Joan Vander Molen and prosecutor Pamela Bozanich.

Hold scrolling for extra examples of dueling true crime initiatives:

‘The Actual Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist’ vs. ‘The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring’

The Bling Ring — consisting of Rachel Lee, Nick Prugo, Alexis Neiers, Courtney Ames and Diana Tamayo — turned notorious for stealing roughly $3 million in money and belongings from Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Audrina Patridge, Rachel Bilson and lots of extra celebrities’ properties from 2008 to 2009.

Following their 2010 arrests, the group was the inspiration behind Sofia Coppola‘s movie of the identical identify and a e-book by New York Instances bestselling writer Nancy Jo Gross sales. There was a renewed curiosity within the case when Prugo and Neiers participated in Netflix’s 2022 docuseries The Actual Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist.

Lee broke her silence in a separate documentary on HBO titled The Ringleader. Lee was the primary topic of the 2023 mission as she provided her facet of the story 15 years after the crimes initially made headlines.

‘Excellent Spouse: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini’ vs. Investigation Discovery’s Model

Sherri’s household and family members provided glimpses into her life because the kidnapping controversy in Hulu’s Excellent Spouse: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini and subsequent press interviews.

After serving time behind bars, Sherri remained tight-lipped in regards to the scenario. Investigation Discovery confirmed in 2024 that they have been engaged on a documentary the place Sherri would publicly handle her authorized points for the primary time.

“Sherri Papini drew worldwide consideration when she went lacking after which once more, when she returned. Whereas many views have been advised, there’s one standpoint that the world hasn’t heard and that’s from Sherri herself,” President of ID Jason Sarlanis mentioned in an announcement on the time. “Investigation Discovery will current a brand new facet of Sherri Papini’s case — advised by her in her personal phrases.”

‘American Homicide: Laci Peterson’ vs. ‘Face to Face With Scott Peterson’

Netflix and Peacock each revisited Scott Peterson‘s conviction for pregnant spouse Laci Peterson‘s homicide in two totally different documentaries.

Scott was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide in 2003 after his spouse disappeared. Laci, who was eight months pregnant on the time, was later discovered lifeless at age 27. After a high-profile trial, Scott, who denied any involvement, was discovered responsible of the first-degree homicide of Laci and the second-degree homicide of their toddler son, Conner.

Scott was initially given a dying sentence, however the ruling was overturned in 2020. One 12 months later, he was re-sentenced to life in jail with out the potential for parole. His case made headlines once more in January 2024 when the Los Angeles Innocence Challenge introduced they have been making an attempt to assist overturn Scott’s homicide conviction.

In July 2024, Peacock introduced its three-part docuseries, Face to Face With Scott Peterson, which featured Scott breaking his silence 20 years after he was discovered responsible for the homicide of Laci and their unborn little one. One week later, Netflix adopted swimsuit with the information that American Homicide: Laci Peterson could be masking the identical true crime case — and was launched days earlier than Peacock’s model.

‘Scoop’ vs. ‘A Very Royal Scandal’

Prime Video’s A Very Royal Scandal was a fictional recreation of Prince Andrew’s 2019 interview by which he denied realizing Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault. The accusations have been revealed after Andrew’s reference to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein went public.

The subject was beforehand coated in Netflix’s Scoop, which was one other dramatization in regards to the notorious interview.

‘Monsters’ vs. ‘The Menendez Brothers’

The scripted model of Erik and Lyle’s story was launched in September 2024 with Nicholas Alexander Chavez bringing Lyle to life whereas Erik was performed by Cooper Koch. José and Kitty, in the meantime, have been portrayed by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny, respectively. Erik and different members of the Menéndez household slammed the collection whereas Murphy stood by the manufacturing.

Lyle and Erik will get to inform their facet of the story in Netflix’s The Menéndez Brothers doc.

Diddy on Netflix vs. Diddy on Investigation Discovery

Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted in September 2024 on costs of racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion and transportation to interact in prostitution, in the future after he was arrested and brought into custody in Manhattan. (He pleaded not responsible to all costs earlier than being denied bail.)

At some point after he was indicted, Investigation Discovery introduced an unnamed doc which might be “exploring the rise and affect of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and the allegations of violent conduct and criminal activity which have trailed the music mogul.”

50 Cent, in the meantime, teamed up with Netflix and director Alexandria Stapleton for a docuseries about Diddy’s alleged crimes. (50 Cent initially introduced plans for the doc in December 2023, which was almost a 12 months earlier than Diddy was arrested and sued by a number of ladies who accused him of sexual assault, which he has continued to disclaim.)

“This can be a story with vital human influence. It’s a complicated narrative spanning a long time, not simply the headlines or clips seen up to now,” 50 Cent and the director mentioned in an announcement that very same month. “We stay steadfast in our dedication to provide a voice to the unvoiced and to current genuine and nuanced views. Whereas the allegations are disturbing, we urge all to keep in mind that Sean Combs’ story will not be the complete story of hip-hop and its tradition. We intention to make sure that particular person actions don’t overshadow the tradition’s broader contributions.”

‘Quiet on Set’ vs. ‘Baby Star’

Investigation Discovery made headlines in 2024 when administrators Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz explored Nickelodeon’s previous poisonous work atmosphere in Quiet on Set: The Darkish Aspect of Youngsters TV. The docuseries particularly highlighted producer Dan Schneider’s time on the community with initiatives reminiscent of All That, The Amanda Present, iCarly, Victorious, Sam & Cat and extra.

The five-part docuseries additionally featured Drake Bell breaking his silence about being the minor concerned in a sexual abuse case in opposition to dialogue coach Brian Peck. (Peck was arrested in August 2003 for sexually abusing a then-unnamed little one. Peck pleaded no contest to performing a lewd act with a sufferer round 14 or 15 years previous and to oral copulation with a toddler below 16 years previous, which resulted in a 16-month jail sentence.)

Baby Star, in the meantime, got here out later that very same 12 months with Demi Lovato on the helm of the storytelling as she appeared on and directed the documentary. The Hulu particular featured Lovato sharing her experiences from little one stardom whereas interviewing different actors in regards to the pitfalls of fame reminiscent of substance abuse points, cash issues and extra.

Ryan Murphy isn’t publicly calling for Erik Menéndez and Lyle Menéndez to be launched from jail after receiving backlash for the way his present Monsters portrays their notorious homicide case.

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say they need to be freed, however I believe that their case needs to be reexamined, and I believe new proof needs to be offered,” Murphy, 58, instructed Folks on Friday, September 27. “If that case was tried and the entire proof was allowed in right now, I believe they most likely would’ve been charged and located responsible of manslaughter and they might be out of jail now.”

Murphy is hopeful that Monsters “finally results in one thing constructive” for Erik, 53, and Lyle, 56.

“Did they go too far? Sure. Have been they out of their minds on the time? Sure. However they’ve been mannequin prisoners,” he famous. “I’ve talked to folks within the jail who declare they’re completely rehabilitated and might truly do good for society in some capability now, and I believe that deserves to be checked out.”

The manager producer went on to clarify why his tackle the case was “so controversial,” including, “Folks aren’t comfy with the concept that two issues will be attainable on the similar time. They need good guys and dangerous guys. They don’t need difficult guys.”

Murphy particularly pointed to Erik and Lyle’s previous authorized points. Erik and Lyle turned prime suspects within the murders of their mother and father — José and Kitty Menéndez — in 1989. They had been subsequently arrested in 1990 earlier than being discovered responsible of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life with out parole in 1996 after two high-profile trials.

“I believe Eric and Lyle did monstrous issues — not simply the murders, however the different crimes they dedicated. I believe they had been morally corrupt at a younger age. When you consider the testimony and in the event you consider the proof, I believe the mother and father had been additionally monsters,” he continued. “However the household says I’m a monster as a result of I dared to debate it, and that’s OK. I don’t thoughts being difficult. I do know that my intentions had been good. We simply actually wished folks to speak about this subject and it’s an uncomfortable subject, which I get.”

In Netflix’s Monsters, which was launched earlier this month, Nicholas Alexander Chavez portrayed Lyle and Cooper Koch performed Erik. José and Kitty, in the meantime, had been portrayed by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny, respectively.

The actual-life Erik spoke out towards the present in the future after it was launched after viewers took subject with scenes alluding to an incestuous relationship between the siblings.

“I believed we had moved past the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, making a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant likes rampant within the present,” learn Erik’s assertion, which was shared by way of Lyle’s Fb web page. “I can solely consider they had been executed so on objective. It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say, I consider Ryan Murphy can’t be this naive and inaccurate concerning the information of our lives in order to do that with out dangerous intent.”

Murphy, for his half, stood by how the present selected to cowl the homicide case — together with the rumors that had been unfold on the time of the trial.

“I really feel like that’s fake outrage,” Murphy instructed Folks. “As a result of in the event you take a look at what we do, we give these boys a lot airtime to speak about what they declare as their bodily abuse. We reside in a type of tradition of shock that lots of issues are knee-jerk, and that’s fantastic. I’m used to being controversial. It’s not new to me.”

It was essential for Murphy that Monsters not decide a aspect.

“I don’t know what story they might wish to be instructed. How do you assassinate the character of two individuals who killed their very own mother and father? I discover that an attention-grabbing alternative of phrases, and I don’t agree with it. Additionally, I believe perhaps they don’t even assume it’s true,” he continued. “And 65 p.c of the present is devoted to [Erik and Lyle’s] perspective that, ‘We had been sexually abused and that’s why we did what we did.’ We are saying that again and again and over, so I don’t perceive what the household can declare didn’t occur as a result of we’re presenting every part that occurred as an opinion of different folks.”

Murphy went on to level out that the Monsters crew wasn’t “doing a documentary” on the Menéndez brothers. (Netflix introduced an upcoming documentary titled The Menéndez Brothers, which can characteristic new interviews with Erik and Lyle, days after Monsters was launched.)

“I used to be involved in doing one thing about all people concerned on this case, together with the mother and father and their views,” Murphy defined. “We’re not presenting any [of the incest speculation] as reality. We’re presenting it as somebody’s opinion. All of that stuff is woven right into a narrative that [Vanity Fair author] Dominick Dunne talked about in articles. It was additionally thrown up in courtroom a number of instances. I’m not saying that it occurred. I’m not saying that it didn’t occur. I’m saying that it was part of the large folkloric tapestry of that case which may have swayed juries in a sure method or not.”

Monsters is presently streaming on Netflix.