The story of the Menendez brothers was an infamous case that rocked the United States for decades. As at the time, the events shocked the nation, and recently, Netflix just released a series about their story. The series titled — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, revisits the gory incident that happened in 1989.
However, one of the brothers, Erik Menendez has come to denounce the narratives of the series, saying it’s a ‘dishonest portrayal’ of their story. So, what really happened? Is this a case of over-dramatization or a lack of effort to get the true story?
The Menendez Brothers' Case
On August 20, 1989, the police got word of the murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their children, Lyle and Erik in their Beverly Hills home. After the sad story broke, many people speculated about the likely reason for such a gruesome act.
According to police reports, the brother had claimed that they killed their parents in self defense and alleged that they had suffered years of physical and emotional abuse. However these claims didn’t fly with the courts, as they were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. This judgment was received with a lot of controversy as some cited that the courts didn’t take the abuse allegations seriously.
Now, years later, their story has been dug up and made into a series by Netflix. But for the brothers, they feel done by, as they claim that the Netflix production isn’t an honest portrayal of the events.
Wrong Call: Erik Menendez's Statement
In a statement by Erik Menendez, the brothers have come out to denounce the show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The statement reads, “Ryan Murphy's obsession with sensationalizing our case is disturbing... He's exploiting our trauma for entertainment.’’ Erik went on to criticize the whole production saying that the portrayal of himself and his brother, Lyle was hurtful to their persons.
He also expressed his disappointment with the way his childhood trauma was handled and portrayed to ensure that it’s a titillating experience for the audience. Erik also claimed that the show had taken away the complexities of their experience and how it has affected them psychologically. He believes that this portrayal is damaging to survivors of such incidents and also causing harmful stereotypes towards people with mental health issues.
Sensationalism Vs Sensitivity: True Life Story
Well, the criticism of this series has not come only from the brothers. There have also been talking points from other critics who believe that the series was being exploitative in several depictions of the brothers. One such occasion was the depiction of incest between the brothers. This has triggered a lot of talking points as many believe that these claims were unsubstantiated.
Another talking point was the suggestion by the producers that Jose Menendez, the father, abused Lyle. However, this claim was denied by Tammi Menendez, Lyle’s wife who said: ‘‘The producers' agenda is clear: to sensationalize and profit from our family's tragedy.’’
Final Thoughts
The controversies surrounding the Netflix drama based on the Menendez brothers points to one of the cruxes that people have had against recreation or depiction of true life stories by filmmakers. A lot of people believe that producers are after making profit and most times over embellish the stories they are telling.
These portrayals have most times been proven to be unfair in their depiction, opening up old wounds for the subject’s families and loved ones, thereby causing more damage. This is why the media has to understand the role they play in creating lasting implications and ensure that they work towards more responsible storytelling.