Current:Home > FinanceRyan Murphy Responds to Eric Menendez’s Criticism of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story -AssetLink
Ryan Murphy Responds to Eric Menendez’s Criticism of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
View
Date:2025-04-15 01:25:46
Ryan Murphy is standing by his work.
Despite the backlash his new true crime series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has received from one of the show’s subjects, Eric Menendez—who alongside his brother Lyle Menendez was convicted of murdering their parents Kitty Menendez and Jose Menendez—the American Horror Story creator believes in what his series has achieved.
“I know he hasn't watched the show, so I find that curious,” Ryan told E! News at the Sept. 23 premiere of Grotesquerie of Eric’s criticism. “I know this for a fact. I hope he does watch it. I think if he did watch it, he would be incredibly proud of Cooper Koch, who plays him.”
He continued, “I think the show is very interesting—what we're trying to do is show many, many, many, many perspectives. In every episode, you are given a new theory based on people who were either involved or covered the case.”
But as the 58-year-old noted, that doesn’t mean that every theory portrayed—including one that Eric and his brother Lyle were involved in an incestuous relationship—will be received favorably, especially for the subjects themselves.
“There are people who say that never happened,” Ryan admitted, before adding, “There were people who said it did happen.”
The Dahmer creator also spoke to the very nature of the series being based in true crime.
“We know how it ended,” Ryan pointed out. “We know two people were brutally shot. Our view and what we wanted to do was present you all the facts and have you do two things: make up your own mind about who's innocent, who's guilty, and who's the monster, and also have a conversation about something that's never talked about in our culture, which is male sexual abuse, which we do responsibly.”
In fact, Lyle and Eric’s in-court defense—which claimed the two brothers had been the victims of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents for years—features predominantly in the new series.
“If you look at that show, 60 to 65% of the show centers around Eric and Lyle Menendez talking about their abuse, talking about their victimization, talking about what it emotionally put them through,” Ryan noted. “Those two boys on our show, get their moment in court, and then so then some.”
But as the longtime producer added, “I'm used to this. I write about provocative things and controversial things, and my motto is 'never complain and never explain.'”
Ryan’s comments come after Eric—who is currently serving a life sentence alongside Lyle after being convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder for the 1989 killings—slammed the new series.
"I believed 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," Erik said in a Sept. 19 statement shared to X, formerly Twitter, by his wife Tammi Menendez. "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."
He continued, "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, 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."
-Reporting by Emily Curl
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (91891)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Second person to receive pig heart transplant dies, Maryland hospital says
- Has Israel invaded Gaza? The military has been vague, even if its objectives are clear
- What 10 states are struggling the most to hire workers? See map.
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Austin airport employee fatally struck by vehicle on tarmac
- Walmart stores are getting a $9 billion makeover. Here's what shoppers can expect.
- Hate crime charges filed in death of Sikh man after New York City fender bender
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- What should you do with leftover pumpkins? You can compost or make food, but avoid landfills
Ranking
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson Addresses “Childish” Conspiracy Theories
- Stock market today: Asian shares track Wall Street gains ahead of Fed decision on interest rates
- New oil leak reported after a ferry that ran aground repeatedly off the Swedish coast is pulled free
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Suspect arrested in Halloween 1982 cold case slaying in southern Indiana
- Jana Kramer Claps Back at Rumors Her Pregnancy Is Fake
- North Dakota GOP party leader resigns 1 week into job after posts about women, Black people
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Serbia’s president sets Dec. 17 for snap parliamentary election as he rallies for his populist party
14 Curly Girl Must-Haves to Take Your Hair From Okay to Yay
Israel targets Hamas' 300-mile tunnel network under Gaza as next phase in war begins
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
UN chief visits tallest mountains in Nepal and expresses alarm over their melting glaciers
Texas mother of missing 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez indicted for murder
States are getting $50 billion in opioid cash. And it's an issue in governor's races