In the official trailer for Netflix’s upcoming documentary “The Menendez Brothers,” Erik and Lyle Menendez break their silence for the first time in decades.
The brothers, convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty, were at the center of a trial that gripped the nation. Their story is also featured in Netflix’s drama series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
Lyle, speaking from prison, says, “Everyone asks why we killed our parents. Maybe now people can understand the truth.” Erik adds, “What happened that night is widely known, but there’s so much that hasn’t been told. We weren’t the ones to tell the story of our lives. Two kids don’t commit this crime for money.”
According to the documentary’s official synopsis, Netflix aims to provide a fresh look at the notorious case. “In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for their parents’ murders in one of the most infamous criminal cases of the late 20th century.
For the first time in 30 years, both brothers revisit the trial in their own words.” The documentary, directed by Alejandro Hartmann, features audio interviews with the brothers, along with commentary from lawyers, journalists, jurors, and family members, offering new perspectives on the case.
Erik Menendez recently made news for criticizing Netflix’s “Monsters” series, which premiered on Sept. 19. The show, created by Ryan Murphy, is the second season in the “Monster” anthology, following 2022’s season about Jeffrey Dahmer. Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch portray Lyle and Erik Menendez, while Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny play their parents.
In a statement posted by his wife Tammi Menendez on X, Erik denounced the series for promoting “ruinous character portrayals” of him and his brother. He claimed that Murphy intentionally misrepresented their lives, saying, “I thought we had moved beyond the blatant lies and character distortions of Lyle.
The portrayal of him in the show is rooted in falsehoods, and I can only conclude it was deliberate.” “The Menendez Brothers” documentary is set to begin streaming on Netflix on Oct. 7. The official trailer is available to watch now.