Netflix got several crucial details about Andrew Borden wrong in The Lizzie Borden Story

In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, Andrew Borden comes across as a pretty terrible guy. Lizzie Borden’s father is seen as having little to no interest in his daughter, cheating on his wife with anyone he can, and having a questionable hobby surrounding his business’ use of axes. But in reality, Netflix made up a lot about Andrew Borden, and lots of these details are factually wrong. 

The show tells the story of Lizzie Borden, a young heiress chafing against her family’s expectations. In August 1892, she was accused of killing her step mother, Abby Borden and her father, Andrew Borden. She was later being acquitted, and nobody was found guilty of the murders. 

Ryan Murphy made the show, so of course we should expect a lot of embellishments and stretches of the truth. However, Andrew Borden was done pretty dirty here. 

via Netflix

Charlie Hunnam admitted to making up that Andrew Borden had a stutter

In Monster, Andrew Borden is shown with an accent-stutter combo, but this was a voice that Charlie Hunnam, the actor who played him, has admitted to making up entirely. 

In a chat with CBR, Charlie Hunnam said the voice he had for Andrew Borden just sort of came to him, and the stutter isn’t factually correct. It just felt right when he was reading his lines. 

No, Andrew Borden didn’t chop up his customers

via Netflix

I think most people expected that this has been made up for the show, but just in case you didn’t, I can confirm there is no evidence Andrew Borden would chop people up so they’d fit in coffins. 

Part of his job in the show was true – Andrew Borden was a wealthy businessman, and began his career as a cabinet-maker and carpenter, and went on to become a partner in the Borden, Almy & Co furniture shop. The company made furniture and yes sometimes, coffins. 

Part of the coffin-making business did mean organising undertaking and funerals, but Andrew Borden himself did not handle the bodies.

Most Read

How to do the Hotel Lobby AI trend from TikTok that puts people into Quavo and Takeoff video

The full Celebrity Traitors 2026 episode schedule as day change is confirmed

Chris Watts ends prison relationship and calls off his jail wedding just weeks after it went public

He also didn’t have a strange obsession with axes

The show also suggests that Lizzie Borden was able to find axes around the house easily, because her father had an eclectic collection. There’s no evidence to support the idea Andrew Borden was obsessed with axes, and the murder weapon might not have even been one, anyway. 

The relationship between Andrew and Abby Borden wasn’t how Monster claimed

via Netflix

Monster also gave us an inaccurate picture of Andrew’s marriage with Abby Borden. During her trial, Lizzie was asked to describe the relationship between her father and step mother, and she described them as “happily united”.

She was further asked if her father was affectionate towards Abby, and Lizzie answered: “So far as I have ever had any chance of judging”. When pressed, she responded with a more straightforward “yes”.

Andrew and Lizzie’s relationship was different, too 

In Monster on Netflix, it looks as though Andrew Borden didn’t care about his daughter Lizzie, and often dismissed her feelings of upset. However, reports from the time claim this isn’t anywhere near the truth. 

An article in American Heritage has claimed Andrew “doted” on his daughter, and added: “Over the years he lavished on Lizzie expensive gifts – a diamond ring, a sealskin cape, even a Grand Tour of Europe.”

Shock! There’s no evidence of an affair with Bridget either

As well as Bridget having a relationship with Lizzie Borden (that there’s no historical evidence of), she is also depicted as having slept with Andrew Borden for extra money. Straight up: There is no historical evidence that Andrew Borden had an affair with the family maid, Bridget Sullivan. 

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news and drops, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.