Top line
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said his office will review the case of Lyle and Eric Menendez, convicted of murder for killing their parents in 1989, two weeks after Netflix released the controversial Ryan Murphy series “Monsters,” which was heavily criticized for its inclusion. The incest story was described by the real-life brothers as a “blatant lie”.
“Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez”.
Netflix Key Facts
Gascón said Thursday that his office is evaluating whether the brothers, who allegedly killed their parents out of fear for their lives after years of sexual abuse, should remain in prison for the rest of their lives, and he said he has “morals and ethics.” The moral obligation to review what is presented.”
The review comes after the Netflix drama based on the murders attracted more than 50% of viewers in its second week amid criticism from one of the brothers and creator Ryan Murphy boasting that the show is “the best thing to happen to the Menendez brothers in 30 years.” “
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” was the most-watched series on Netflix for the second week in a row with 153.8 million hours watched from September 23 to September 29, an increase of 57% from the previous 97.5 million hours. It was seen in its debut week.
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series “Monster” focuses on the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez, who were murdered by their then-18- and 21-year-old sons Eric and Lyle, although both men have criticized the show as a “blatant lie” amid its depiction of trauma. Sexual assault and the suggestion that they had an incestuous relationship.
On September 19, the day of the series’ premiere, Eric Menendez shared a statement to “And horrific for Lil and Lee’s character.”
The show’s most controversial images, such as incest and scenes showing Lyle using cocaine, are largely based on the far-fetched theories of the late Vanity Fair journalist Dominic Dunne, with no real evidence behind them.
Murphy said he found Eric Menendez’s comment “interesting because I know he didn’t watch the show” and said he stood by the way “Monsters” portrayed the story. He later criticized the Menendez brothers for claiming “lies after lies” without specific criticism and then called the show “the best thing that ever happened.” For the Menendez brothers 30 years ago.
On Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter published an article featuring interviews with the series’ main actors — including Cooper Koch, who played Eric, and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who played Lyle — who expressed sympathy for the Menendez brothers, but also agreed with Murphy that… That the press of the show does more good than harm to the family.
Get text alerts for breaking news from Forbes: We fire up text message alerts so you always know the top stories making up the day’s headlines. Text ALERTS to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here: joinsubtext.com/forbes.
Did the Menendez brothers have an incestuous relationship?
Most of the controversy surrounding “Monsters” focuses on the implication that the Menendez brothers had a sexual relationship. In the show, Eric and Lyle share a kiss in the second episode and their mother finds them bathing together in the sixth episode. They both vehemently denied having had a sexual relationship, and Murphy said: “There are people who say it never happened, and there are people who say it actually happened.” Robert Rand, an expert on the case, told The Hollywood Reporter that he did not believe the couple were “ever lovers” and said any inappropriate contact between the two would not be a real relationship, but rather a “trauma response.”
Main background
Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot six and ten times, respectively, in their home in August of 1989. Initially, Eric and Lyle told police that they were outside the home when the murders occurred, but Eric later confessed the killings to his psychiatrist. whose mistress informed the police of her brother’s involvement. The Menendez trial was a huge news event, and while the brothers never denied killing their parents, they claimed they shot them out of fear for their lives after being sexually abused by their father their entire lives. They said their mother, whom they accused of being an alcoholic and drug addict, enabled her husband to act out and was also physically abusive to him. The defense showed pornographic photos of the boys taken by their father, and two people testified to support the abuse allegations. One plaintiff claimed that “men should not be raped.” The first trial ended in a deadlocked jury, and the second trial, which focused much less on the abuse allegations, ended with the brothers being found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and remain in prison.
What to watch for?
In addition to the new investigation by the Los Angeles District Attorney, Lyle and Eric, now 56 and 53, are awaiting a habeas corpus petition filed last year that requested a new evidentiary hearing or the Menendez brothers’ convictions be overturned. Last year, new evidence emerged in the case when Roy Rosselló said he had been raped by Jose Mendenez, and the brothers’ defense team discovered a letter Eric wrote to his cousin in 1988 talking about his father’s abuse.
Shadow
“Monsters” was the most-watched premiere on Netflix last week. “Nobody Wants This,” a romantic comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, came in second place with 45.7 million hours watched, less than a third of “Monsters” in the same week. “The Perfect Couple” came in third place (30.7 million hours viewed), followed by “Mr. McMahome” (28.2 million views) and “Emily In Paris” season 4 (25.1 million views). Ellen DeGeneres’ long-awaited comedy special, “For Your Approval,” was the ninth most-watched show in its debut week.
Further reading ForbesEric Menendez speaks out against Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ series, calling it a ‘dishonest portrayal’ By Monica Mercury Forbes Ryan Murphy Defends ‘Monsters’ Series From Controversy — As Eric Menendez Criticizes ‘Blatant Lies’ By Connor Murray Forbes The True Story The Twisted Beyond ‘Monsters’ on Netflix: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez by Monica Mercuri