Netflix Users Slam Ryan Murphy’s ‘Monsters’ for Menendez Brothers Portrayal: ‘Disgusting Piece of Trash’
The second season of Ryan Murphy‘s Monster series for Netflix is here, and, just like the first, it’s being met with some immediate controversy.
Whereas Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was slammed by family members of some victims, the newest iteration — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which hit the streamer on Thursday (September 19) — is catching heat from some viewers for perceived inaccuracies and creative liberties taken with the real-life events that inspired this leg of the anthology series.
On social media, several fans complained that there were historical inaccuracies in this dramatic telling of the true-crime story, which saw the Menendez brothers convicted for murdering their mother and father.
For example, one watcher wrote that while they believe the Netflix show will “be the definitive adaptation” due to the streaming service’s global reach and millions of subscribers, “it is riddled with inaccuracies. I feel like an idiot for being hopeful about this show.”
That user wasn’t the only one who was optimistic about the outcome but dispirited by the results; another user shared a similar sentiment, taking particular issue with the incestuous undertones of the brothers’ relationship as portrayed in the show, saying, “This particular season seems like such a slap in the face to the Menendez Brothers and it just makes me sad for them. Was hoping Ryan and the rest of the crew would bring some type of justice to them. This incestuous stuff in the show is disrespectful.”
Some viewers felt that Monsters didn’t adequately contextualize the case and the experiences of abuse the brothers allegedly went through before the murders took place: “I’m two episodes into Netflix Monsters about the Menendez brothers & I’m already starting to feel my anger bubbling to the surface. I was hopeful it would reveal the truth if the extreme abuse those boys suffered, but it would seem the implication is the opposite. I’m disgusted,” someone wrote. “This is the biggest joke and just all around just disgusting and disrespectful to both Erik and Lyle Menendez,” wrote another.
Perhaps the most vociferous complaint in this regard came from the person who wrote this: “The Menendez brothers were victims of sexual abuse who finally retaliated against their abusers and this disgusting piece of trash has turned their story into an incestuous fanfic. Hell is not hot enough for Ryan Murphy.”
A small contingent of those complaining about the show were also critical of the musical selections, of all things: “I love that in the second episode of Monsters, they have the Menendez brothers in a montage while ‘Ice Ice Baby’ is played in the montage even though the episode takes place in 1989 and the song didn’t come out until a year later,” wrote one audience member. “Were the Menendez brothers really THAT into Milli Vanilli?” asked another.
How did you feel about Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez story and why? Sound off in the comments below.
If you or someone you know is the victim of child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453). If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
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O
completely agree, it seems the creators were just capitalizing off of the misinformation presented in this case because it makes their narrative more “interesting.” when you are creating a show about other people’s real life story, it is NOT the time to add your own creative spins and exaggerations to the events.
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G
I get your frustration but going to talk to those brothers in prison would've been a waste of time.
They'll spin, and have continued to spin, any story about it they've wanted.
Remember, their parents were dead couldn't defend themselves.
So, my opinion only, Ryan took that in to account.
Murderers are liars. What do you expect?
And I DO NOT discount that they may have been sexually abused b
Ryan, to me, is awesome.
I like his work and won't apologize for it.
Leah
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P
Ryan Murphy is an overpaid, undertalented white man who is just handed buckets of money for being mediocre at best.
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O
I’m not even going to watch given the feedback I’ve seen already on how inaccurate this is….I would just be mad. But now I’m questioning the Dahmer version….was that all fake too? Shame on you Ryan Murphy! Should have learned from Dick Wolf!
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G
No. Dahmer was not fake. There were more documentaries on Dahmer than the Menendez Brothers because Dahmer is one of the most prolific, notorious serial killers in US history. He's in the top 5 of them.
I've read books on him as well.
It's very, very close to accurate. Trust me.
Leah
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G
And the 3rd installment of Ryan Murphy's Monster is about Ed Gein.
Not much is super known for sure about Ed Gein's life when he was younger other than one docuseries I watched on MGM+.
So, that one won't be super accurate either.
Dahmer, so far, is the best of his installments.
Leah
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M
the trailer does seem show an incestuous /Homoerotic view of the brothers. I don’t ever recall incest being talked about in the original trial and I watched that original trial on court TV all day and all night. The trailer was so off putting that I definitely have no interest in watching this version
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Pus you are an idiot & the other idiot behind it you people are all evil you & other's no nothing you making up on lie's because all in just for the money ! Not going to watch it nothing but lies & my friends said the same thing pure evil per Netflix airing it going elsewhere!!!’
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G
This is what happens when people put expectations on movies and TV shows and are let down.
The complaining begins.
First of all, it's mostly fictional and he has stated a lot of his work is from the start. He over dramatizes his work and it makes for good entertainment. Unfortunate to say but isn't this already recycled entertainment?
Just like Dahmer and now with the 3rd installment coming, Ed Gein?
Secondly, the parents were dead and couldn't defend themselves against the abuse allegations.
The first jury was deadlocked despite 30-50 witnesses coming forward saying they were abused.
I DO NOT DISCOUNT THE ABUSE.
Finally, they killed their parents and they were going to be cut out of the will. Those are facts.
So, it all comes down to: THEY KILLED THEIR PARENTS and that's the ONLY reason in the second trial they didn't use the abuse defense. It was considered hearsay.
THEY HAD OTHER OPTIONS BUT THEY OPTED TO KILL THEIR PARENTS.
I can't stand my parents and there was physical, psychological, and verbal abuse in my home. Yet, they're still alive.
Empathy from me, yes. Sympathy, no.
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O
No, their uncle, who was the executor of the estate, stated that Jose Menendez had told him months before the killings that he had taken his sons out of the will and had told them so. It turned out that he actually hadn't disinherited Lyle and Erik but they believed that they had been. It doesn't make sense that they would kill their parents for money when they believed the had been disinherited. None of the money they spent after the killings came from the estate (it came from an insurance policy that they knew nothing about) and the prosecution in both trials was never able to prove that the killings were for financial gain. Please get your facts straight.
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