Monsters ‘the best thing to happen to Menendez brothers in 30 years’, says Ryan Murphy

‘The family claim lies after lies, but then don’t say what the lies are – they don’t back up anything’

3 hours ago

Ryan Murphy has responded to all the backlash surrounding Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix in a new interview. The creator slams the family’s statement responding to the show’s portrayal of the brothers and also making his stance clearer on what he actually thinks happened with the case. Ryan Murphy has been often embroiled in controversy regarding his portrayal of true crime cases in his work – and he says he has “no interest” in speaking to the brothers in a very blunt interview addressing the Monsters saga.

In a new interview with Variety, Ryan Murphy gave an interview detailing his perspective on the statements given by Erik Menendez and then more recently by the Menendez family in relation to Monsters. “The family’s response is predictable at best,” Ryan Murphy says. “I find it interesting because I would like specifics about what they think is shocking or not shocking. It’s not like we’re making any of this stuff up. It’s all been presented before. What we’re doing is we’re the first to present it in one contained ecosystem. What’s grotesque about it? … Tammi [and] the family, they have always done this and they did this recently — they say, ‘lies after lies’ — but then they don’t say what the lies are. They don’t back up anything.”

He then brands Monsters as “the best thing to happen to the Menendez brothers in 30 years.” He continues saying“They are now being talked about by millions of people all over the world. There’s a documentary coming out into two weeks about them, also on Netflix. And I think the interesting thing about it is it’s asking people to answer the questions, ‘Should they get a new trial? Should they be let out of jail? What happens in our society? Should people be locked away for life? Is there no chance ever at rehabilitation?’ I’m interested in that, and a lot of people are talking about it. We’re asking really difficult questions, and it’s giving these brothers another trial in the court of public opinion. From what I can tell, it’s really opened up the possibility that this evidence that they claim that they have, maybe that there is going to be a way forward for them.”

via Netflix

Ryan Murphy commented on the trials of the brothers, notably the second trial. “The second trial was a travesty. I think it’s insane that all of the evidence that they claim really happened was not allowed to be admissible,” he said. “That’s a mistake. I think the behavior of those male jurors is an outrage. I think a lot of those jurors were homophobic. I think that they refused to accept the idea that sexual abuse could happen to men. I think that’s outrageous. So what do I think? I think that if there’s new evidence, yes, it should be heard. I also personally do not believe that someone should spend their entire life in prison.”

I did wonder whether Ryan Murphy reached out to the brothers when making the show, but he says he has “no interest” in speaking to them. “I have no interest in talking to them,” he says. “It’s very good that Cooper has a relationship with them, and I’m very close, obviously, with Kim Kardashian, who has spoken to them. I love Kim, and I believe she does God’s work. I believe in prison reform. I believe in everything she believes in. I don’t know what I would say to them. What would I ask them? I know what their perspective is.”

“I believe in justice, but I don’t believe in being a part of that machine,” Murphy says. “That’s not my job. My job as an artist was to tell a perspective in a particular story. I feel I’ve done that, but I wish them well.”

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.