How the new Netflix show exposes a miscarriage of justice – The Torch

When does the line between facts and exploitation go too far in true crime?

In recent years, true crime media has increased exploded. Platforms like Netflix produce documentaries and dramas that captivate viewers with dark, often grisly stories from history. While some productions offer valuable insight into the criminal justice system, others blur the lines between storytelling and exploitation.

The latest example is Netflix “Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez” We look back at the infamous murders of José and Kitty Menendez by their sons in 1989. This retelling has reignited the debate not only about the brothers’ guilt, but also about the ethics of how we consume true crime.

The Menendez brothers are far from innocent, but the true crime media’s approach distorts or inflates their story. They downplay or deny her allegations of long-term abuse as motivation, instead emphasizing the horrific nature of her crime – the murder of her wealthy parents.

Their lavish lifestyle and courtroom antics are frequently highlighted in the series, but the complicated nature of their family life and the pain they supposedly experienced are rarely discussed. This distorts the overall picture for the viewer by emphasizing his guilt while ignoring the subtle reasons why he may have committed the crimes. Erik and Lyle Menendez are convicted murderers, but they are also people, and their treatment in the media and in court reveals uncomfortable truths about the balance between justice and spectacle.

In 1989The Menendez brothers shot their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills mansion. Lyle Menendez was 21 years old, while his younger brother Erik was only 18 years old. First the police allegedly organized crime. But when Lyle and Erik later confessed, they claimed the murders were the result of years of abuse at the hands of their father, including sexual assault. The trial that followed was a media circus public opinion There was a division between those who believed the brothers were victims of their upbringing and those who saw them as calculating, greed-driven murderers.

The prosecution’s narrative that the brothers were spoiled rich kids looking to inherit millions overshadowed the defense’s allegations of sexual abuse, most of which were true dismissed during her retrial. As a result, both brothers were convicted First degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. For many, this case was closed nearly three decades ago.

Still, the new Netflix series attempts to reopen the case in the court of public opinion. The show details the brothers’ allegations of abuse while delving into the psychological complexities of their family dynamics. Erik Menendez has openly criticized the series, calling it misleading and full of “blatant lies” and accusing co-creator Ryan Murphy of distorting facts. Erik argues that the show revives outdated narratives and casts doubt on the sexual abuse allegations that he and his brother have long held.

The success of true crime dramas like Monsters raises important questions about the ethics of exploiting the lives of real people for entertainment. One of the most disturbing aspects of the series is its apparent fascination with the “dark attraction” of the Menendez brothers’ relationship, even suggesting incestuous undertones. Not only does this distort the facts, but it also shifts focus from the true tragedies at the heart of the case: the deaths of José and Kitty, the abuse the brothers suffered, and the irreparable damage inflicted on everyone involved.

Ed Power from The Telegraph summed it up best, saying that shows like Monsters were ultimately little more than “competently put together nonsense made in the worst possible taste.” Behind the gripping drama and careful production lies a gross oversimplification of one complex case, reduced to “eye food” for scandal-hungry viewers.

In our post-#MeToo era, Gender assumptions about who can be a victim of sexual abuse are slowly being broken down. Would the Menendez brothers’ abuse allegations have been handled differently if the trial had taken place today? It’s possible, and that possibility makes Netflix’s handling of the case even more problematic. By sensationalizing the details of their relationship and downplaying their allegations of abuse, the series does a disservice not only to the brothers, but also to the broader conversation about abuse and trauma.

Ultimately, it is up to the viewer to question whether these depictions are fair or merely profitable. When true crime goes too far, it’s not just the people behind bars that are harmed; it is the truth itself.