Unraveling the Controversy Surrounding Netflix’s Hit Series ‘Monsters: The Menendez Brothers’ | Entertainment

Topline

Netflix's dramatic sequence based mostly on brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez and the homicide of their mother and father drew greater than 50% extra viewers in its second week amid criticism from one brother and a boast from creator Ryan Murphy the present is “best thing to happen to the Menendez brothers in 30 years.”

Key Facts

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Did The Menendez Brothers Have An Incestuous Relationship?

Most of the controversy surrounding “Monsters” focuses on the implication the Menendez brothers had a sexual relationship. In the present, Erik and Lyle share a kiss in the second episode and their mom finds them showering collectively in episode six. Both have vehemently denied a sexual relationship, and Murphy has said “there are individuals who say that by no means occurred, there have been individuals who stated it did occur.” Robert Rand, an knowledgeable on the case, advised the Hollywood Reporter he would not assume the pair have been “ever lovers” and said any inappropriate contact between the two would not have been a real relationship, but a “response to trauma.”

Key Background

José and Kitty Menendez have been shot six and 10 occasions, respectively, of their house in August of 1989. Initially, Erik and Lyle advised police they'd been out of the home when the murders occurred, however Erik later confessed the killing to his psychologist, whose mistress told police about the brother's involvement. The Menendez trial was an enormous information occasion, and whereas the brothers by no means denied killing their mother and father, they claimed they shot them out of concern for his or her lives after a lifetime of sexual abuse at the fingers of their father. They stated their mom, who they accused of being an alcoholic and drug addict, enabled her husband's conduct and was additionally bodily abusive. The protection introduced pornographic images of the boys taken by their father, and two folks testified in help of the abuse claims. One prosecutor claimed “men could not be raped.” The first trial ended with deadlocked juries and a second trial, which targeted much less on the abuse claims, led to the conviction of each brothers on two counts of first-degree homicide and conspiracy to homicide. They have been sentenced to life with out the risk of parole and stay in jail.

What To Watch For

Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53, are awaiting a habeas corpus petition filed final yr that requested for a brand new evidentiary listening to or for the Menendez brothers’ convictions to be vacated. Last yr, new evidence emerged in the case when Roy Rosselló stated he, too, had been raped by José Mendenez, and the brothers' protection workforce found a letter written by Erik to his cousin in 1988 opening up about his father's abuse.

Tangent

“Monsters” was the No. 1 most-watched show on Netflix final week. “Nobody Wants This,” a romantic comedy sequence starring Kristen Bell and Seth Cohen, was in second place with 45.7 million hours considered, lower than a 3rd of “Monsters” in the similar week. “The Perfect Couple” was in third place (30.7 million hours considered), adopted by “Mr. McMahom” (28.2 million) and the fourth season of “Emily In Paris” (25.1 million views). The much-anticipated comedy particular of Ellen DeGeneres, referred to as “For Your Approval,” was the ninth most-watched present in its debut week.

Further Reading

ForbesErik Menendez Speaks Out Against Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ Series, Calls It A ‘Dishonest Portrayal’By Monica MercuriForbesRyan Murphy Defends ‘Monsters’ Series From Controversies—As Erik Menendez Slams ‘Blatant Lies’By Conor MurrayForbesThe Twisted True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’By Monica Mercuri