echo Content Warning: This article addresses sensitive topics in relation to the Menendez case and the Netflix series “Monster”, including mentions of parental sexual abuse and incestuous relationships. Reader discretion is advised.
With the recent release of the second season of Netflix’s hit anthology series, ‘Monster’, fans all over the world are introduced to Lyle and Erik Menendez. The series follows real-life ‘monsters’, with each season focusing on different killers. The first season featured American serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, becoming an instant (and unexpected) hit within the platform. Naturally, the creators, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, started working on season 2, as they picked The Menendez Brothers.
The surname ‘Menendez’ comes as no stranger to true-crime enthusiasts, as it is tied to one of the most infamous criminal cases in American history. The Menendez Brothers, known simply as Lyle and Erik Menendez, killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez at their Beverly Hills Home, in the summer of 1989. The case captured the nation’s attention not only because of the brutal nature of the crime but also due to the brothers’ shocking defense: claiming they spent years of sexual, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their parents, ultimately leading to their murders.
While the main plotline of the Netflix series stays true to reality, there is no denying certain aspects were dramatised to enhance audience engagement and provide an entertaining storyline. With this in mind, we can’t help but ponder, ‘How much of Monsters is fictional, and what elements of the story stay rooted in the truth?’ In this article, we aim to debunk fact vs fiction, which themes are exaggerated or underrepresented, and most importantly, the true facts of the case.
Netflix’s promotional poster for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Source: Netflix
REWRITING REALITY: The Inaccuracies in Monster
The Brothers’ Personalities
The entertainment industry often tends to overdramatise events for the sake of capturing audience attention, as well as to boost ratings and viewership. While this helps produce entertaining content, it is unfortunate to note that it could reflect badly upon real people if said content is based on real-life situations, stories, or people. This happens to be the case for Netflix’s Monster.
In the series, Lyle Menendez is shown to be aggressive and manipulative. Played by actor Nicholas Chavez, Lyle swears in almost every scene he’s in, is shown to be controlling (exerting significant influence on his brother, Erik), and insensitive. The show’s depictions of Lyle paint him as overbearing and inhumane, which is a stark contrast to the real Lyle Menendez.
Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez
Erik Menendez himself spoke out about the lack of accuracy in his brother’s portrayal, through a public statement from prison, expressing his frustration. He writes, “I believe we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose. It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.”
Additionally, Anamaria Barault, cousin to the Menendez brothers, expressed her surprise towards Lyle’s character portrayal in the series. In an interview with The Sun, Barault describes Netflix’s representation of Lyle to be ‘rage-fueled’, ‘fly-off-the-handle’ and ‘aggressive’, commenting on how it is ‘so far off the mark of his personality.’ She even mentions how she doesn’t think she has ever even heard him raise his voice.
Lyle Menendez (left) and actor Nicholas Chavez (right)
Creative liberties were also made on Erik Menendez’s character. The most obvious change was with Erik’s sexual orientation. In the Netflix series, Erik is portrayed as being gay, and the creators often make it a central aspect of his identity in the series. This change was made primarily to add depth and complexity to his character, as he struggles to discover his identity amid the legal case. A subplot was even added into the series, whereby Erik shares a close bond with a fellow inmate whom he seems to be attracted to.
However, this portrayal of Erik could not be further from the truth. In reality, Erik has clarified in an interview amid his 1996 trials that he is not gay, and has expressed his frustration over the misrepresentation of his experiences. In reality, Erik has been married to Tammi Menendez since 1999 and has maintained their relationship successfully despite his life sentence. Tammi often uses social media applications such as X, Instagram and TikTok to raise awareness on the Menendez case, in hopes she will be able to contribute to a retrial or the release of her husband and his brother. She also uses these platforms to help Erik communicate with the public and the fans, where he often expresses his opinions and gratitude for the support, especially amid the release of Monster.
Erik Menendez with wife, Tammi Menendez
Additionally, in Monster, Erik Menendez is portrayed through submission, lacking agency. He is shown to be easily manipulated and controlled, especially by his brother, Lyle. In reality, while Erik was less outspoken compared to Lyle, his experiences and statements were not passive or irrelevant. Erik had a voice in the decisions that led to the tragic events, and his accounts of the abuse they suffered were vital in the case. Although Lyle was often seen as the more dominant brother, Erik’s role in their actions and his emotional responses were more complex than the series suggests. His statements during the trial and his interactions with psychologists demonstrate that he was not merely following his brother’s lead but was also deeply affected by the trauma of their upbringing, which influenced his decisions and behaviour.
While Erik’s character was not entirely portrayed accurately, actor Cooper Koch did a tremendous job playing the character, particularly in Episode 5: The Hurt Man. This episode runs at 33 minutes and was filmed in one entire take, featuring Koch as Erik, detailing the abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents. Upon seeing the episode, Erik Menendez himself praised Koch’s performance, indicating that he believed the actor did a commendable job in the scene and depicted the emotions he felt perfectly. This was exactly what Koch hoped to achieve, as upon landing the role, he intended to handle Erik’s story with sensitivity and respect, to “support his family and all the people who stand with him.”
Actor Cooper Koch (left) and Erik Menendez (right)
The Relationship Between The Brothers
Monsters was heavily critiqued and landed itself in controversial waters due to the portrayal of the brother’s relationship, or more specifically their fictional incestual relationship. Similar to the Jeffrey Dahmer series that was also directed by Ryan Murphy, the Netflix series was filled with homoerotic undertones which caused massive upheaval as many accuse the portrayal as Murphy attempting to satisfy his own sexual fantasies.
Erik and Lyle Menendez in Monster
In Spree: Episode 2, the brothers were seen sharing a passionate kiss, meanwhile they were pictured showering together in The Hurt Man: Episode 5. Many called these scenes unnecessary and exploitative, turning a relationship built on mutual trauma into a homoerotic incestuous fantasy that was built on one person’s theory. However, the difference between the two series is that Dahmer’s sexuality was proven to be true, but the brother’s incestuous relations were merely a theory that was brought up by Dominick Dunne—a crime reporter that wrote several articles on how the brothers were ‘secret lovers’. In an interview with Erik’s actor (Cooper Koch), he also states that he does not think that the theory is true. He further explains it by describing a scene in Episode 7, where Dunne was explaining the theory, and at the end of the scene, it cuts to a shot from the back and all of the friends who were sitting at the table were gone, which Koch describes as a mise en scène way to show that Dunne’s point of view was unfavourable.
To this, Erik made a statement via his wife’s (Tammi Menendez) X account:
“It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime has taken the painful truths several steps backwards—back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”
Lyle Menendez (behind) and Erik Menendez (front)
Furthermore, the only confirmed sexual incident that occurred among the brothers was when Lyle sexually assaulted Erik when they were kids because he thought that it was a norm after being sexually abused by his father over the years. This can be shown through Episode 3 of Monsters when Lesley Abramson encourages Erik to recall his past. Both Lyle and Erik have also said that they were never romantically or sexually involved, so the infamous portrayal of their relationship has left people feeling embittered as it seems like they’re being fetishised in the series. Murphy also responds to these allegations and defends himself, stating that the show aims to encapsulate all theories and speculations from all who were involved in the case, leaving the audience to decide who were the actual ‘monsters’ in this case. As a fictitious true crime documentary, there is no doubt that it takes every individual’s truth into play, but one can’t help but wonder if, at the end of the day, it merely showcases a lack of sensitivity towards an utterly traumatic event.
The Ending Scene
The series comes to an end with a scene of the parents as a sweet couple having a heartfelt conversation during their boat ride, while the brothers are presented as psychotic killers. It definitely was portrayed from a prosecution perspective whereby the murder of Jose and Kitty was premeditated and financially motivated, which accounts for how the case reached its verdict in reality, with Lyle and Erik being put behind bars. With the show showcasing multiple perspectives, people are suspecting that this last scene came from the parent’s point of view. However, it is worth noting that no one testified on Jose’s behalf, so whether or not he and Kitty had this conversation, we won’t ever know, which points to the fact that this scene was entirely scripted by the scriptwriters.
The Menendez Family Portrait in Monster
It certainly is interesting that it was the same exact scene that was showcased from the perspective of the brothers in earlier episodes, so to end it from the parent’s perspective is truly the icing on the cake as it presents how important perspectives are and makes you wonder who is right. The parallelism aptly proposes a thought process of how there’s always a possibility of unreliable narratives, while indirectly emphasising the fact that nobody will ever be able to paint its accuracy. Some people have commented that perhaps it was meant to show how most people aren’t simply good or evil, and how murky situations can be, which further explains why the brothers still loved their parents despite growing up in an abusive household. However, some argue that the show should not have ended like that as it seems like it was ended on a pro-prosecution point of view, calling it ‘bias’.
Well, do you agree with how the series ended? At the end of the day, it might be the perfect ending as no one except the four of them know what truly happened, hence we’ll never really know what the actual truth is.
Other Notable Factual Contradictions in the Series
Unsurprisingly, these aren’t the only changes made for dramatic effect in the series. While these changes are not as impactful as the previous ones, they still serve to prove that the series is undoubtedly exaggerated.
Among these minor changes is the boys’ entry when killing their parents. In the series, Jose and Kitty are able to see their attackers before they are killed, as Lyle and Erik enter the room from the door they are facing. Contrary to this, in reality, Jose and Kitty were shot from behind as they were watching television, indicating they were unaware that their killers were their sons.
Jose and Kitty Menendez (seated) facing Lyle and Erik in Monster
Besides that, in the series, following the murder of their parents, Lyle and Erik are depicted as creating false alibis by going straight to a movie theatre, hoping it would eliminate them as suspects by establishing they were watching a film at the time. In reality, Lyle and Erik did no such thing, with the scene being added for dramatic effect.
Additionally, Monster creates a subplot stating Jose was abused by his mother during his childhood, seemingly contributing to the idea that abuse was ‘genetic’ or ‘tradition’. However, in reality, there is no evidence to support this claim, and was most likely a fictional addition to create depth to Jose’s character.
Lyle (left) and Erik (middle) with Jose (right)
FACTS DONE CORRECTLY: What Monster Got Right
The Abuse Spoken About by Lyle and Erik Menendez
While Monster has its flaws, the series has successfully depicted certain aspects accurately; the abuse spoken about by the brothers being one of them. Various scenes in the series highlight Lyle and Erik’s interactions with their father, Jose, by making use of fear and tension-filled themes. Flashback scenes reveal moments hidden behind closed doors, where Jose’s aggression, domineering behaviour and sexual misconduct are suggested, implied, and sometimes even discreetly shown. The actors, particularly Cooper Koch, made sure to show audiences the depth of the brothers’ trauma, through their pained expressions, trembling voices and body language. The series also showed audiences fragmented visuals of Erik’s memories during his therapy scenes, creating a sense of needed sympathy. Similarly, Lyle’s court testimonies were a central aspect of helping audiences understand the trauma and unspeakable forms of abuse they endured. These very scenes are the most important, as they help underscore the brothers’ vulnerability and contextualise their eventual actions.
Erik Menendez confiding in his therapist regarding the abuse he endured
Lyle Menendez testifying in court
The series doesn’t fail to show how the brothers’ mother, Kitty Menendez, wasn’t all that innocent either. Kitty’s constant neglect of her sons, and her lack of action despite knowing the sexual abuse they were facing in their household, are portrayed in a way that underscores her complicity. Several scenes show Kitty’s tendency to turn a blind eye to her family’s disturbing dynamics. Kitty chooses instead to focus on her own personal struggles with her alcohol and drug addictions, along with her deteriorating and fluctuating mental health. These scenes accurately depict how Kitty’s disinterest and inaction have contributed to the overall toxic environment in the Menendez household. It is through these moments that audiences are able to understand how Kitty’s actions have caused the brothers to feel abandoned, neglected and betrayed, which then led to their parents’ eventual murders.
While these scenes may be difficult to watch, it is a necessary reminder to audiences of the devastating impact of abuse, as well as the importance of understanding the circumstances that can drive individuals to desperate actions.
Kitty Menendez (left) and Jose Menendez (right) in Monster
The Brothers’ Spending Spree
After the death of their parents, the brothers underwent a massive spending spree, whereby they acquired luxury goods like a Porsche Carrera, a Jeep Wrangler and three Rolexes. Erik, who was planning to enrol at UCLA, decided to fully pursue his career as a tennis player and ended up hiring a tennis coach who was to be paid $60000 a year. On the other hand, Princeton student Lyle used their newfound money and bought himself a Porsche, luxury clothes, as well as a cafe that he transformed into a chicken wing franchise known as Mr. Buffalo. This was one of the main reasons why the prosecutors and the public believed that the murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez was premeditated and financially motivated, as there were talks that Jose removed the brothers from his will.
The spree that raised suspicions among the public was one of the events that was accurately portrayed in the Netflix series, as shown through Spree: Episode 2. In the series, the brothers were provided with round-the-clock bodyguards in concern for their safety and two limousines which were to be used for transportation. The portrayal also shows Lyle’s requests for some assistants in order to run errands for them and a stay at Hotel Bel-Air. With Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice Ice Baby’ as the background music, the brothers are seen buying Rolex watches and excessive amounts of luxury clothes, or as shown by Nicholas Chavez’s famous line “You’re getting those pants in every colour bro.” The series definitely projects a satirical tone over the whole event, with Lyle justifying the overspending as “spending our way into happy feelings”. But despite the sarcastic portrayal of the event, it was one of the facts that the Netflix portrayal got right.
Lyle and Erik Menendez buying luxury jewellery in Spree: Episode 2 of Monsters
The Confession Tapes
In both the series and reality, a crucial role played in the boys’ arrest is Dr. Jerome Oziel. Dr Oziel was originally Erik’s therapist, but Lyle joined the sessions later on. Following their parents’ deaths, Erik confessed to the murders and sought therapy for his overwhelming guilt. Dr Oziel recorded the boys’ confessions, where they detailed their motives, actions and the events leading up to their parents’ murders. While Dr Oziel had no intention to leak the tapes, his mistress, Judalon Smyth exposed the tapes to the police, leading to it being used as primary evidence against the boys in court.
Dr. Jerome Oziel (left) and actor Dallas Roberts
In the United States, these tapes would typically be protected under doctor-patient confidentiality laws. However, the court ruled that portions of the tapes were admissible in the trial because the brothers had allegedly threatened Dr. Oziel, which nullified their confidentiality privileges under California law.
The series accurately portrays the contents of the tapes, including the brothers’ claims of abuse. These detailed allegations of abuse formed the cornerstone of their defence, as they argued the murders were committed out of fear and as a response to years of mistreatment. The abuse claims also played a significant role in shaping public opinion, dividing people between those who believed and supported the brothers and those who were sceptical of their story. The series also did a tremendous job using the tape scenes to highlight the power dynamic between Lyle, Erik and Dr Oziel, along with shining a light on the ethical and legal implications of using confidential tapes as evidence.
Lyle and Erik in Dr Oziel’s office
The Murder
The first step to murder would be to acquire the weapons needed, and in the case of the Menendez brothers, it would be, well, guns. In the series and actual event, the brothers first attempted to buy guns in several gun stores, one in West LA and another in Orange County, but both were unsuccessful as one had a two-week waiting period and the latter required a driver’s license (Lyle’s driving license was suspended due to speeding tickets). The brothers were only finally able to get their hands on the guns at Big 5 Sporting Goods which was located in San Diego.
Now, to the actual murder of their parents. On a Sunday evening in 1989, Kitty and Jose Menendez were murdered in the family room of their Beverly Hills home while watching television. Lyle and Erik, both armed with 12-gauge shotguns, entered the room and fired at their parents at point-blank range, resulting in shots in their legs, arms, chests and faces. The authorities determined that Jose surrendered to death after about 6 gunshots, while Kitty suffered 10+ gunshots, which eventually led to her death. It is alleged that Kitty attempted to flee, but was unsuccessful as her oldest son Lyle finished her off, as shown in the series. The police named the deaths of Jose and Kitty Menendez as a case of double homicide, with the public suspecting it was a mafia hit or a revenge plot by Jose’s ex-business partners.
Lyle and Erik armed with guns in ‘Episode 3: Blame It On The Rain’ of Monsters
THE REAL ISSUE WITH NETFLIX’S MONSTER: The Ethical Implications of Overdramatization in the Media
While Monster has successfully raised awareness of the Menendez Brothers and shines a light on their case, there is no denying that the public’s perception towards the brothers may not entirely be positive. The main issue with the series is its lack of authentic and accurate portrayals. Monster is filmed not by facts, but by public speculation at the time of the case. The script and visuals are presented in a way that reflects society’s primary theories and perceptions of the boys rather than a nuanced portrayal of their experiences. This approach paints them as villainous or inhumane figures, potentially distorting the reality of their lives, personalities and actions.
Naturally, the overdramatization of Monster raised ethical concerns regarding the morality of turning traumatic events into commercial entertainment, especially when it affects surviving family members, victims or the public’s understanding of justice. Unfortunately, sensationalism over accuracy is more common than one thinks, even occurring amid their case. Monster risks prompting misconceptions about the Menendez brothers and their motivations or actions. While the series does have moments where the abuse faced by the brothers stands out, they are often contradicted by scenes speculated to be true by the public at the time.
The manipulation of public perception is a power primarily held by the media and therefore should be taken responsibly. By painting the brothers as villains, the series risks garnering hate towards the boys, but by painting them as victims, the series also risks undermining their accountability to the murders. There is no fixed formula when it comes to perception, but a series of such scales should ensure fairness, a balance and a prioritization to portraying facts and evidence accurately. Biasness should not be tolerated, especially when it affects real people, their reputations and their futures.
Lyle and Erik Menendez with their defence attorney, Leslie Abramson
When it comes to Monster, legal and psychological issues are simplified for audience understanding. A clear example of this is the lack of context of public perception at the time on male sexual abuse. At the time, male sexual abuse was hardly ever discussed openly, often deemed as a taboo topic. Toxic masculinity was not unheard of, and victims often faced pressure to remain silent to avoid any potential judgement, disbelief or slander. Ideologies that men should be ‘strong’, and ‘dominant’ made it extremely difficult for male victims to come forward. Sexual abuse was primarily associated with female victims and therefore made the experiences male victims faced improbable or easily dismissed. The lack of media coverage of male sexual abuse cases also contributed to misinformation, and very few support systems existed. These topics are necessary and should be given context in Monster, so audiences will be able to understand the struggles the boys faced when it came to their trials and public perception.
Erik and Lyle Menendez during their court hearings
Ultimately, Monster represents a broader issue in the media (particularly true-crime media) whereby the lines between fiction and reality are blurred. While the goal of entertainment is understandable and expected, it should not come at the expense of the well-being, reputation and integrity of those involved. Therefore, creators must reflect on their responsibility to uphold fairness, accuracy, and most important of all, respect. Otherwise, they risk distorting history and perpetuating harm to the real people they seem to be portraying differently.
IN CONCLUSION…
Facts and fiction constantly pervade their way throughout the whole Netflix series, and as the exaggerations intertwine with the traumatic nature of the crime, we can’t help but ponder whether it was right to utilize extremely real trauma with very real humans for dramatisation. One thing that a lot of viewers must remember is that this was an actual case and not purely a TV show, so it’s best to watch it objectively and not take everything at face value.
So, were they sociopaths who killed for money or abused boys who killed for fear? The show encapsulates all the theories and misconceptions the public had about the brothers, and through all the multiple perspectives it presents, it’s up to the viewers to be the jury and decide for themselves who the actual Monsters are.
The series was not meant to be a documentary, but a show that’s based on real-life events. Hence, if you’re interested in knowing the actual facts of the Menendez Brothers’ case, Netflix released a documentary which definitely helps first-time viewers understand the case on a deeper level.
The Menendez Brothers, a Netflix documentary
Now, who do you think were the Monsters?
By Ashley Anne Danker and Vanessa
Edited by: Tisyha
