Another day, another Monster controversy. This time, people are kicking off about the dance scene in The Lizzie Borden Story, but there is a deeper meaning behind it – including the song choice. The latest chapter of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime series takes us further back in time than it has before, centering on the 1982 case of Lizzie Borden. Lizzie was accused of brutally murdering her father Andrew and stepmother Abby, but she was acquitted the following year. It’s safe to say Monster takes some serious creative liberties with the story, changing various elements of the case to fit in with the overall theme of female rage and the restrictions placed on women throughout history. The series jumps between the 1890s and 1990s to also examine the case of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who – in this version of events – is deeply inspired by Lizzie. In episode 6, Aileen and her girlfriend Shelby (based on the real Tyria Moore) visit the Lizzie Borden bed and breakfast (this certainly didn’t happen in real life, as the B&B didn’t open until after Aileen’s conviction). Meanwhile, in the 1800s, the story takes us to after the killings. Bridget decides to leave for the time being as the police investigate the case. Lizzie wants her to stay so they can be together, but even though Bridget wants to, she knows it’s better to go. Bridget invites her for “one last” dance together, and this is where things get a little surreal. Sarah Paulson, Ella Beatty, Jessie Lee, and Vicky Krieps throw one crazy dance party in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. pic.twitter.com/6N62qvWPEg — Netflix (@netflix) September 22, 2026 As Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’ starts playing (an inspired needle drop), the episode cuts between Lizzie and Bridget dancing in the 1890s and Aileen and Shelby dancing in the B&B a century later. The two scenes are edited as though the four women are sharing the same dance floor. So, why are people angry about this? Even though a lot of viewers have praised the scene, Netflix shared it individually on X this week, and it’s sparked a fresh wave of criticism over the way Monster fictionalises and turns real life killers into entertainment. One person wrote, “Everyone involved should be industry blacklisted,” while another commented, “Yeah this sh*t ain’t it. it was mental the first time but we just making murderers into jokes now.” A third added, “It’s a shame how after Dahmer it went on a downward spiral, it became clear after Ed Gein that Ryan Murphy has made this series about his fantasies not about the actual story.” It's a shame how after Dahmer it went on a downward spiral, it became clear after Ed Gein that Ryan Murphy has made this series about it his fantasies not about the actual story.. Never bother to watch this one, I am sure this one must have sicked bad! https://t.co/qx24zWsClQ — Hasan (@hasanshahbaz19) September 23, 2026 Netflix’s actual post has similarly received plenty of criticism, with one writing, “This is super weird to glorify this.” Another said, “Stop trying to normalise and humanise serial killers!” “This is a f**king disgrace to the OG Monster movie and Aileen Wuornos herself,” added a third, and a fourth chimed in, “I want Ryan Murphy in jail!” There are also plenty of comments accusing the show of treating the subjects like they’re Marvel characters. And look, taken completely out of context, it’s not hard to see why this scene looks so disrespectful. But within the episode, there’s a lot more going on here than Monster simply putting two infamous women on the dance floor. The meaning behind the dance scene in Monster Credit: Netflix The creators of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story have explained why Aileen and Lizzie’s stories are connected in Monster – and why the show deliberately uses modern music in its 1890s scenes. Speaking to Netflix’s Tudum, co-showrunner Ian Brennan said, “Thematically and within the world of the show, it was about drawing a line underneath the idea that these women weren’t isolated events, that female rage is something that runs through our history and our species.” Ella Beatty similarly explained that Aileen’s storyline is there to explore a “legacy of female rage and reaction to the hand they’re dealt”, while Brennan has said Sarah Paulson’s performance as Aileen “points to this thread of rage that runs through the female experience from history to now.” By merging the two dances, Monster is essentially creating a visual link between the couples and the wider theme of the show. They’re separated by a century, but both are stories of women trying to find love and freedom. Without condoning their violence, the series provides context for their circumstances and what it suggests eventually drove them to snap. Credit: Netflix Then there’s the song itself. ‘Smalltown Boy’ was released by openly gay synth-pop group Bronski Beat in 1984, and tells the semi-autobiographical story of a young gay man forced to leave home after experiencing homophobic abuse and rejection. The song choice feels pretty meaningful in this context, playing during a moment of freedom for both couples who were living in worlds where being gay was far from accepted. And the fact a very 1980s song is playing during an 1890s dance isn’t just Monster being deliberately weird, either. Brennan told Tudum the anachronistic soundtrack was intended to stop the period story from feeling “stuffy” and remind viewers “that these are real people.” “We both go back in time to Lizzie, then go further back to Elizabeth Báthory and then come back sooner to Aileen Wuornos,” he said. “So we’re sort of jumping through time anyway and extending that to the present day with music, felt like the right move.” For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: Netflix Post navigation Next story
