Menendez brothers' family slam 'grotesque' Netflix show 'Monsters' for 'outright falsehoods'
The Menéndez family is speaking out against Ryan Murphy and Netflix.
Tammi Menendez, wife of Erik Menéndez, has shared a statement on social media attributed to "virtually the entire extended family" of Erik and Lyle Menéndez slamming Murphy's Netflix series "Monsters."
The group of family members, which the statement said consists of 24 people, criticized the show as a "phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare that is not only riddled with mistruths and outright falsehoods but ignores the most recent exculpatory revelations."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Netflix and Murphy for comment.
"Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story" centers around the Menéndez brothers, who were convicted of killing their parents in 1996. The brothers argued they acted in self-defense following years of abuse by their father, José Menéndez.
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In a previous statement, Erik Menéndez blasted the Netflix show for its "caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies" and its "dishonest portrayal" of their story.
The extended family said in their own statement that they have been "victimized" by the "grotesque shockadrama" and that Murphy "never spoke to us" before making the show.
Erik Menendezslams Ryan Murphy, Netflix for 'dishonest portrayal' of his parent's murders
"The character assassination of Erik and Lyle, who are our nephews and cousins, under the guise of a 'story telling narrative' is repulsive," they said.
"We know these men. We grew up with them since they were boys. We love them and to this very day we are close to them. We also know what went on in their home and the unimaginably turbulent lives they have endured. Several of us were eyewitnesses to many atrocities one should never have to bear witness to.
"It is sad that Ryan Murphy, Netflix, and all others involved in this series, do not have an understanding of the impact of years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Perhaps, after all, 'Monsters' is all about Ryan Murphy."
'Monsters' star Nicholas Alexander Chaveresponds after Erik Menendez slams Netflix series
One of the series' most controversial elements is its suggestion that Erik and Lyle Menéndez may have been in an incestuous relationship. They kiss on the lips in one episode, while in another, their mom walks in on them showering together. The latter scene is presented as a theory of journalist Dominick Dunne, played by Nathan Lane, who hypothesizes the brothers might have killed their parents to cover up their relationship.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Murphy defended the show by saying his intent was to include multiple perspectives on what happened.
"What the show is doing is presenting the points of view and theories from so many people who were involved in the case," Murphy said. "Dominick Dunne wrote several articles talking about that theory. We are presenting his point of view, just as we present (Menéndez attorney) Leslie Abramson's point of view. We had an obligation to show all of that, and we did."
In their statement, the family described Dunne, who died in 2009, as a "pro-prosecution hack."
Murphy also told ET it's "interesting" that Erik Menéndez issued a statement "without having seen the show," adding, "I would say 60-65% of our show, in the scripts and in the film form, center around the abuse and what they claim happened to them, and we do it very carefully and we give them their day in court."
Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who played Lyle Menéndez, also responded to Erik Menéndez's previous statement by telling USA TODAY he has "sympathy and empathy" for him "in that I can only imagine how difficult it is to have the most traumatic moment of your life put up there on the screen for everyone to see."
