In the wake of significant backlash against Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, trial expert Robert Rand has publicly refuted claims of an incestuous relationship between brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter after the series premiered on September 19, Rand sought to clarify misconceptions surrounding the case as depicted in the show.
“I don’t believe that Erik and Lyle Menendez were ever lovers,” Rand stated emphatically. As the author of The Menendez Murders, published in 2018, he noted several inaccuracies in the series. “I think that’s a fantasy that was in the mind of Dominick Dunne,” he added, referring to the character portrayed by Nathan Lane.
Rand acknowledged that during the trial, rumors circulated regarding a peculiar relationship between the brothers. However, he asserted that the only physical interaction they had was when Lyle, at age eight, played with Erik in the woods using a toothbrush, mirroring an act their father José had done. He clarified, “I certainly wouldn’t call that a sexual relationship of any sort. It’s a response to trauma.”
As of now, representatives for Ryan Murphy and Netflix have not responded to requests for comments regarding the controversy. The limited series features scenes, including one where Erik and Lyle share a kiss, and another in which their mother catches them showering together. The brothers have consistently testified that there was never a sexual relationship between them.
In a statement released shortly after the series’ debut, Erik Menendez criticized the portrayal, which was also shared on Lyle’s social media. “I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show,” he remarked. Erik expressed concern that the creative choices made by Ryan Murphy were intentional, stating, “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime has taken the painful truths several steps backward.”
Erik further lamented the series’ implications about male sexual abuse, stating, “Those awful lies have been disrupted and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out.” He concluded with a poignant statement: “How demoralizing is it to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma?”
The Menendez brothers, then 21 and 18, infamously killed their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, with shotguns in their Beverly Hills home in 1989, claiming self-defense due to years of mental, physical, and sexual abuse. Erik reflected in a 2005 interview with PEOPLE, “I felt it was either my life or my parents’ life. … Being arrested was such a relief. My life was over, and I was glad. I didn’t want the money.”
While many have criticized the series for its fictional representations, others, including Payton Koch, brother of Cooper Koch—who portrays Erik—have defended the project. Payton stated on Instagram, “I won’t speak for Cooper, but I will say that he cares immensely for the boys and stands with them and all victims of abuse.” He emphasized that Cooper worked hard to ensure the authenticity of their stories, particularly in episode five.
As discussions about the series continue, Rand’s comments highlight the delicate balance between dramatizing real-life events and adhering to the truth, raising important questions about representation in media.
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