Lyle and Eric Menendez were brothers, ages 21 and 18, who murdered their parents in August of 1989. 

In 2024, their case was adapted into the second season of a Netflix show called “Monsters,” directed by Ryan Murphy.

Due to its portrayal of the brothers and the alleged abuse they endured at the hands of their father, Jose Menedez, much controversy surrounds the show. Their mother, Kitty Menendez, was an enabler in the brothers’ abuse. 

The Menendez brothers are serving life in prison without possibility of parole. Prosecution in the case claimed that they were seeking their family fortune, but the brothers maintain that their actions stemmed from fear of abuse.

Students at Haven have strong opinions on the case and the show. 

Freshman Scarlett Rein is optimistic about the show and thinks the brothers were fairly represented. She hasn’t heard of the controversy surrounding it.

“There’s always the controversy of making a documentary about murderers and not talking about the families of the victims or who they are portraying. Other than that, I haven’t really heard of any controversy… I think it’s a really great show based on what I’ve seen so far. I mean, I’m not done yet but I think they were pretty fairly represented,” Rein said. 

When freshman Fiona Seale watched the show, she had a differing opinion from the court. 

“I don’t think they’re bad people for doing what they did; it was a reaction to what they were going through,” Seale said. 

Freshman Mena Duffield is incredibly invested in the show and shares her opinion on its controversy. 

“Well, to be completely honest, I feel that the show did an awful job to them. The writer Ryan Murphy portrayed, specifically Lyle Menendez, as a sociopath,” Duffield said. “Both of the brothers had been abused by their dad, and the murders may have been in self-defense since they were scared that they’d be killed if they didn’t do something…Like although I think it’s a pretty good show on its own, but to say it’s like a documentary, I feel it’s not like great at all.”

Duffield has a negative view of the show and believes the brothers were poorly represented. 

On a brighter note, Duffield enjoyed the acting in the show.

“I would love to shout out to the actors who did an amazing job, specifically Cooper Coach who played Eric Menendez,” Duffield said. “I thought his acting was amazing.”