“I don’t think this series should’ve been made,” wrote one viewer after the release ofNetflix’s newest crime series,Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story.
HighlightsViewers criticize Netflix’s new series ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’ as ‘insensitive’ and ‘gross.‘The show portrays the Menendez brothers bare-chested in promotional material, leading to accusations of sexualizing the subjects.The previous ‘Monsters’ series on Jeffrey Dahmer faced similar criticisms
The controversial production is the latest installment of Netflix’s Monster anthology, which started with The Jeffrey Dahmer Story in 2022. Much like its predecessor, the new series delves into the most disturbing side of crime, but its depiction of the Menendez brothers has drawn significant criticism.
“This is disgusting. We shouldn’t be sexualizing victims of abuse for a show,” one comment read.
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The Netflix series about the Menendez brothers’ sparks backlash from fans as they characterize the show as “insensitive” and “gross”
Image credits:Ted Soqui/Sygma/Getty Images
The main point ofcontentionamong fans is the way the brothers are portrayed in promotional material considering their backstory.
The actors behind Lyle and Erik, Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch, posebare-chestedand holding each other in a suggestive manner, flaunting their toned physiques and good-looking features.
Image credits:Netflix
While the brothers wereconvicted for parricide, the murder of their own parents, their trial revealed that the pair acted as a form of self-defense and retribution. Turns out their father, José, a successful businessman in the entertainment industry,sexually abusedboth of his sons since they were kids.
“I don’t think I will be watching this. The aesthetic of the promotional content has a sexy tone,” one viewer wrote. “The whole thing is sick and sad.”
Fans also viewed the promotional material as confirmation of a trend that started with Dahmer’s series: the romanticization and sexualization of criminals.
“To be fair, with our show, you’re meant to fall in love with [Joe]. That’s on us. Jeffrey Dahmer? That is on Netflix. That is squarely on the shoulders of Netflix,” said actorPenn Badgley, who also portrayed aserial killerin the 2018 thrillerYou.
Netizens were quick topoint fingersat theMonsteranthology’s director, Ryan Murphy, believing his treatment of the topic to be “insensitive,” and full of homoerotic undertones.
“Ryan Murphy is the last person who should be covering true crime. He has no depth or nuance,” one viewer stated.
“He has no depth but he’s also often bringing gay subtext in this. They’re supposed to be brothers. Why do we get a teaser where they are shirtless cuddling each other?” another replied.
The Menendez brothers are looking to be released from prison. Their attorneys are using new evidence against their father to secure a hearing
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office told local media that it had received the petition, but has not responded as of the time of writing.
“I started watching this before I had to go to work. I’m almost done with episode 2. I feel like they sexualized the brothers too much,” a fan wrote.
“I just finished it and found it an awful, dismissive view, yet again of what these boys suffered at the hands of theirhorrid parents!” said another.
“Quite disappointed with this series! Was expecting so much more afterDahmer. It had a B-grade vibe to it and the story was nowhere near as interesting,” a viewer stated.
“Those poor boys. I feel their pain. It’s terrible growing up in an abusive childhood. Can’t blame them, they were pushed to their limit,” one said.
“It’s a horrible story and what those boys went through no one should have to,” another stated.
TheMonstersanthology is set to continue with a third season, this time exploring the life ofserial killerEd Gein.
“This is creepy and gross,” said one viewer, as others joined in to share their thoughts about the show
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