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What We Learned About the Menendez Brothers From the Netflix ‘Monsters’ Show

With the Menendez brothers back in the public eye, what can we rediscover about this decades-old case?

Comparison of the actors playing the Menendez Brothers vs the real Menendez Brothers
The Menendez Brothers in court versus the Netflix series. Credit: YouTube/Netflix

The names of the Menendez Brothers have been circulating on the internet. The convicted pair from Beverly Hills, California, were found guilty of murdering their parents in 1989.

Jumping on the bandwagon, Netflix has released a dramatized series, Monsters, and a documentary, The Menendez Brothers. With both Netflix shows providing differing perspectives on the case, audiences are wondering which one is more accurate.

Who are the Menedendez Brothers?

A photo of Erik and Lyle Menendez
Lyle and Erik Menendez. Credit: Netflix

Born to Kitty Menendez and successful businessman José Menendez. The Brothers grew up in a luxury Beverly Hills mansion, pioneering themselves as a first-generation American family. Appearing as a successful and tight-knit family with the oldest son (Lyle) attending Princeton University and the younger brother (Erik) ranking 44th in the United States under-18 tennis league. Behind closed doors, the family harnessed dark secrets unbeknownst to many.

Photo of Erik and Lyle Menendez Parents, Kitty and José
The parents. Credit: Netflix

The Crime

On the 20th of August 1989, Kitty and José Menendez were shot dead in their living room. With a combined 16 gunshot wounds between the pair, police immediately assumed the crime was gang-related. Lyle Menendez reported the crime to the police, crying down the phone and shouting, “Someone killed my parents.” Unknown to police, Lyle and Erik were the real perpetrators of the crime and this would not be uncovered until almost a year later. Following a confession to Erik’s therapist and suspicious activity from the Brother’s following the parent’s deaths

Until the criminal trial began between Erik and Lyle a motive emerged for the shocking murders of their parents. As the pair had already confessed, the trial was to sustain the degree of murder, which ranged from first-degree to manslaughter, subsequently determining their prison sentence.

Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story

The recent Netflix release by Ryan Murphy was a dramatization of the events surrounding the brothers, starring Cooper Koch (Erik), Nicholas Chavez (Lyle), Chloë Sevigny (Kitty), and Javier Bardem (José). Garnering immediate attention, the series aimed to explore the Brother’s life before the murders, as well as their close-knit dynamic and the abuse dealt to the pair at the hands of their parents.

Although the series continues to circulate across social media, many fans hit back at the inappropriate and inaccurate detailing within the series.

The show versus real life. Credit: TikTok / @cinematictrivia

The series indicated a sexual nature between the Menendez Brothers, which has never been proven. With scenes depicting the pair kissing and showering together. This representation was even more damming considering the Brother’s history of childhood abuse.

“Monsters’ decision to float the theory of incest was criticized even more because both brothers accused José of abuse. Lyle claimed his father started to molest him when he was 6 years old and stopped two years later. As a result of the trauma, Lyle revealed that he had sexually assaulted Erik as well.”

Yana Grebenyuk

Erik Menendez responded to the series via a statement shared on X:

A statement on the series. Credit: X / @PopBase

The Menendez Brothers Documentary

Following the controversial Netflix series, the brothers were able to take part in a documentary that gave them a voice to tell their story. Featuring audio interviews from prison, the documentary allowed the brothers to share their experiences. Distancing from the increasing homoerotic and incestuous representation seen in the previous dramatized series.

Unlike the incestuous depiction in ‘Monsters’, which saw the brothers kiss on screen. The documentary includes testimony from Lyle Menendez himself, who stated that the pair never had a sexual relationship.

Promo photo for the Menendez Brothers documentary on Netflix
Promo for The Menendez Brothers documentary on Netflix. Credit: Youtube/Netflix.

Unlike the dramatized series, this documentary sought to expose the inaccuracies presented in the second retrial of the case.

Unlike the first trial, which resulted in a hung jury, the second trial did not allow the defendant’s admission of abuse, which was their main defense. Following decades of sexual abuse by their Father, the boys hardship was not admitted into evidence, leading to a full conviction of life in prison.

“This new claim has added credibility to the Menendez brothers’ original defense that their father’s long-term abuse was what drove them to commit the murders. These revelations have added to the shift in narrative, sparking renewed interest in the case and intensified public debate around the brothers’ motives and the bias of the justice system towards male sexual assault victims.”

Sarah Hurtado Rodriguez

Social Media and the Fight for Freedom

Despite decades of hardship, misinformation, and the struggle for truth in the case of the Menendez Brothers. Gen Z has fought for the freedom of the brothers, recognizing and acknowledging the hardships that the boys faced through their battle with childhood sexual abuse.

A plea for freedom. Credit: X / @sorryimcarol

A new hearing is scheduled on November 29th, 2024 for the brothers, potentially leading to a resentencing and an early release.

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Hello! My name is Rachel, I'm from Manchester and I'm a Journalism student at Cardiff University! I love writing anything related to popular culture and entertainment.

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