Rishika Shahi
As the star of Netflix’s controversial new series ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story,’ Nicholas Alexander Chavez has found himself at the center of a heated debate surrounding the dramatization of the infamous 1989 murder case. In a recent interview, Chavez addressed the criticism leveled by the real-life Menéndez brothers, Erik and Lyle, who have condemned the show as being full of “blatant lies” and accusing the creators of intentionally distorting the facts.
Sympathizing with the Menéndez Brothers
Despite the backlash, Chavez expressed his understanding of the brothers’ reaction, stating, “I sympathize with them. This is a very sensitive and personal story, and I can imagine it’s difficult to see it portrayed on screen, even if it’s not a completely accurate representation.” He acknowledged the challenges of capturing the nuances of such a complex case in a limited format.
As the actor tasked with bringing Lyle Menéndez to life, Chavez faced the daunting challenge of embodying a real person whose actions have been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate. He spoke about the importance of researching the case thoroughly to gain a deeper understanding of the brothers’ motivations and the context in which the murders took place.
Erik Menendez facebook post after the series
After killing their parents, José and Kitty, on August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menéndez (portrayed by Cooper Koch in the episode) are both serving prison sentences at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California. According to the brothers, their murders were motivated by chronic sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.
In a recent Facebook post, Erik blasted the show’s depiction of him and Lyle, calling “the facts” of their existence “inaccurate.” “I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show,” Erik said in the post. Authorities have asserted that the brothers’ motivation was avarice, pointing to their extravagant post-slaying buying spree that included pricey cars, watches, and tennis lessons.
In a trailer from the upcoming documentary The Menéndez Brothers, which PEOPLE published, Lyle stated, “There was a media spectacle from the beginning.” Erik remarked, “So, the story about our lives was not told by us.” “This crime is not done by two kids for financial gain.” The Menéndez Brothers will debut on Netflix on October 7.
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