Ryan Murphy’s ‘Monster: Menendez’ Sparks Controversy

Key Takeaways:

• Ryan Murphy’s latest installment in the Monster series, which focuses on the Menendez brothers, is causing controversy.

• Viewers are criticizing the portrayal of an alleged incestuous relationship between Erik and Lyle Menendez, asserting this plot twist deviates from actual facts.

• Erik Menendez himself has publicly criticized the portrayal of his life, accusing Murphy of having questionable motives.

• The reaction to the series highlights the broader discussion around the ethical accountability of filmmakers who dramatize true stories.

The Monster Series: Telling the Menendez Story

Following the controversial installment about Jeffrey Dahmer, Murphy has returned with another episode of Monster, this time focusing on the nerve-wracking story of the Menendez brothers. The series aims to retell the hair-raising murders of José and Kitty Menendez by their own sons in 1989. However, like the previous installment, this new retelling is not free of its share of controversy.

Controversial Portrayals Stirring Heated Discussions

Viewers and real-life characters from the plot, such as Erik Menendez himself, have voiced their discomfort with the depiction of events onscreen. This backlash is particularly centered on the second episode of the series. This episode hints at an incestuous relationship between Erik and Lyle Menendez, a claim that is largely unsubstantiated.

The controversial episode features the brothers locking lips and dancing closely while planning their future. Adding fuel to the criticism is the theoretical dialogue where journalist Dominick Dunne suggests they killed their parents to keep their alleged romance a secret, a hypothesis that the real-life Dunne did not actually propose during his trial coverage.

Erik Menendez’s Public Response

Erik Menendez did not hold back his criticism for the show’s depiction of his life. His wife, Tammi Menendez, shared an online statement from Erik on her Twitter account, where he censured the show for pursuing a devastating character portrayal. His rebuke also accused showrunner Ryan Murphy of having ill intentions, considering the narrative choices he made. He called out the series for not only oversimplifying but also distorting the very real issues of trauma and abuse that the brothers faced growing up.

A Call for Factual Integrity in Storytelling

Meanwhile, social media users have called for the need to maintain factual integrity when recounting real-life events onscreen. They emphasize the responsibility of filmmakers in preserving the truth, especially when dealing with stories involving childhood trauma and abuse. This public outcry signals a significant challenge facing filmmakers who profit from retelling someone’s real story, particularly ones that involve such serious issues.

Unpleasant Flashbacks to the Jeffrey Dahmer Controversy

The present controversy over the Menendez series rekindles unpleasant memories from the earlier backlash against the Jeffrey Dahmer miniseries. Many criticized that show for its inaccuracies and accused it of exalting the notorious serial killer. Families of Dahmer’s victims raised their concerns, stating that the series was retraumatizing and exploited their loved ones’ tragedies without their consent.

Despite the allegations and the controversy surrounding the Menendez series, it continues to be streamed on Netflix. Whether it will lead to any changes in how factual stories are depicted in the future remains to be seen. As with any public discourse, the debate around this series serves as an ongoing conversation about ethics and integrity in storytelling. As viewers, we can only hope for a more accurate representation of real-life stories on screen.