Topics: Film and TV, Menendez Brothers, Netflix, Ryan Murphy, True crime
Ryan Murphy has made the confident claim that the Menendez brothers should be 'sending him flowers' after he made a series about the murder of their parents.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story dropped on Netflix on September 19 and presented viewers with the chilling story of Lyle and Erik, who were both convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison following the death of their parents in 1989.
The highly anticipated series, which followed Murphy's original Monsters series about Jeffrey Dahmer, shot up Netflix's Top 10 and remained in the number one spot for days as it captivated viewers.
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Viewers have commended the series as 'incredible', though Murphy has also received criticism from the subjects of the show, who he never reached out to.
Erik released about the series through his wife, Tammi Saccoman, which stated in part: "It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.
"It is sad for me to know that Netflix's dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward."
However, Murphy responded to the criticism in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, and expressed belief that not only had the series achieved what he'd planned, but that the Menendez brothers should be thanking him for it.
He commented: "Ian [Brennan, co-creator] and I set out to do exactly what we wanted to do. And I’ll tell you my thoughts about the Menendez brothers. The Menendez brothers should be sending me flowers."
Murphy claimed the brothers 'haven't had so much attention in 30 years', adding: "It’s gotten the attention of not only this country, but all over the world.
"There’s sort of an outpouring of interest in their lives and in the case. I know for a fact that many people have offered to help them because of the interest of my show and what we did.
"There is no world that we live in where the Menendez brothers or their wives or lawyers would say, 'You know what, that was a wonderful, accurate depiction of our clients.' That was never going to happen, and I wasn’t interested in that happening."
Murphy expressed belief that both Lyle and Erik failed to acknowledge the series was telling a story with a 'broad canvas', which included the story of the parents and others surrounding the family.
"We had an obligation to so many people, not just to Erik and Lyle. But that’s what I find so fascinating; that they’re playing the victim card right now — 'poor, pitiful us' — which I find reprehensible and disgusting," Murphy continued.
"I also think that two things can be true at the same time. I think they could have killed their parents, and also had been abused. They could have been of ambiguous moral character as young people, and be rehabilitated now. So I think that story is complicated."
While reaction to Monsters has been mixed, Murphy has said he's thrilled' with the responses.
"There’s room for all points of view," he said.
