The release of Netflix’s retelling of the Menendez Brothers criminal case has created a divide on TikTok, with claims the new series of ‘Monsters’ is fabricated.
Lyle and Erik Menendez’ case gained popularity in early 2020 when new generations investigated the brothers’ guilty convictions in the early ’90s, confessing to the murder of their parents, who they allege had sexually abused them.
Communication and Media student Ava Ferguson-Leighton has followed the case since 2019 and has an interest in true crime due to her parents coming from a law enforcement background. Ms Ferguson-Leighton believes that generations see the case differently.
“I think back in the ’80s not a lot of people had a lot of sympathy for the deep-rooted issues presented in the case, whereas young generations now are looking at it through a different lens and having a different opinion,” she said.
“People believe now that maybe there was something else to it, that behind the headlines maybe there was a complex background of trauma, betrayal, and a desperate quest for justice.”
Online critics on TikTok have questioned how accurately the case was portrayed, many arguing it has misrepresented key facts and simplified complex issues, presenting a dramatised account of the brothers’ upbringing and the events leading up to the tragic killings.
TikTok users have shared side-by-side comparisons of the show with documented interviews and court transcripts, arguing the series indulges in sensationalism rather than factual storytelling, however some scenes present seemed to be portrayed almost perfectly.
@isfilmatic A comparison between Erik Menendez’s real-life testimony and Cooper Koch’s portrayal of him in the @Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. #erikmenendez #monsters
In a recent Forbes article, Erik Menendez expressed his disappointment, explaining how he was upset with the portrayal of himself and the entire series.
“It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward,” he said.
“So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander.”
Fans of the show are defending the show’s artistic liberties, claiming the emotional truth conveyed is more important than strict adherence to facts.
Proponents argue the series brings much-needed attention to the complexities of familial abuse and trauma, encouraging those who watch to go in with an open mind.
You can watch Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix.
Some insight into the case if you’re new here:
(Trigger Warning: Video explores graphic and detailed facts about the Menendez Brothers case, viewer discretion is advised.)
@kaitlyngale The infamous and controversial case of the Menendez Brothers PART 1!! I have doing parts, but there is SO much to this case #menendezbrotherscase #menendezbrothers #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #fyp #truecrimestory #truecrimetok
