Image by: Netflix
On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot their parents José and Kitty to death. These brothers, Lyle being the oldest and Erik being the youngest, grew up in a wealthy family in Beverly Hills, California, but even though money was not a problem in their lives, the brothers claimed that their parents were abusive.
Recently, this case has resurfaced because of the Netflix television series, Monsters, which was released on September 19, 2024. Ryan Murphy, the producer, explained that he wanted to make viewers “uncomfortable” while uncovering the truth of the brothers’ lives. However, this series depicted the case inaccurately, leading the Menendez brothers themselves to speak out. Robert Rand, a journalist who covered the trial, exclaimed how “the general public doesn’t really know the difference between a fictionalized scripted series and a documentary, and that’s problematic because people see different scenes play out with the real-life characters and believe it actually happened.” Now, these two brothers are being attacked and labeled as murders due to the dramatization of their infamous case. But, are Lyle and Erik really “monsters”?
Monsters captured an audience all across the world due to its sensationalized plot. Mr. Kim, a Psychology teacher at Washington High School, said that “In terms of the crime shows on Netflix and why they gained such an audience, even if they are inaccurate, people don’t care about accuracy. People care about what’s going to get them excited. People are going to care about what gets their interest instead of the show misinterpreting someone.”
Many people who have been following this case have been disappointed in the flawed portrayal of the Menendez brothers. Rana Mirzada, a junior, was uncomfortable throughout the show. “It was not an accurate depiction at all,” she said. “There are many facts that Ryan Murphy switched. It was a kill or be killed situation. José Menendez was the real monster who sexually assaulted his children with Kitty Menendez aware of it, but taking no action. Ryan Murphy should realize that these aren’t just characters in a show so he can make a profit: these are real people who have gone through unimaginable trauma that have feelings.”
Murphy was also responsible for producing the Jefferey Dahmer show on Netflix back in 2022. By the way he depicted Dahmer versus the Menendez brothers, he makes a serial killer look more innocent than these brothers, which makes us question if his work is really reliable. When Variety, a news platform, asked Murphy if he talked with the brothers before making the show, he said he doesn’t have any interest in knowing the brothers at all. As a matter of fact, no one knows the brothers and their lives besides themselves.
This series just proves that no one knows the real story behind the majority of the crime cases seen online. Though one of the primary motives claimed for the brothers to murder their own parents was self-defense, there is another possible factor: financial gain. The prosecution argued that the brothers killed their parents to inherit their substantial estate and live a lavish lifestyle. After they took their parents’ lives, the brothers went on a shopping spree. They spent a large amount of money on luxury items, including expensive clothes, watches, and even a Porsche. This behavior was used by the prosecution to prove that their murders were about greed. This extravagant spending was well-documented in court records and media reports. The series emphasized this factor, showing how their behavior changed dramatically after their parents’ deaths. Whether they took their parents’ life because of self-defense or financial gain, this case is just proof that no one knows the true story behind any case, especially if your main source is a Netflix show. Even though Monsters has been breaking records, the true story behind it is often forgotten. If the Menendez brothers are to be believed, they have gone through more pain and trauma than most people endure in one lifetime. They have been pleading for their innocence for thirty-five years, yet they are still locked up in prison. After the arrival of this show, their case has been reopened, which could potentially lead to the release of the brothers. As many shows continue twisting up true stories to fit Hollywood’s standard, it makes us question what to believe.
Arya Khadilkar is a current junior at Washington High School and she has lived in Fremont her entire life. This is her first year working on The Hatchet and she is very excited to interview people and write about news around the school. She is one of the captains of Washington High School’s Bollywood dance team, Taal, and loves expressing her art through dance. When she’s not dancing, she enjoys reading, singing, and playing with her Siberian Husky. Arya isn’t too sure about her major yet, but she’s certain that she wants to go to college in the near future.