Family slam show from the Menendez brothers, Ryan Murphy

The Menéndez family speaks out against Ryan Murphy and Netflix.

Tammi Menendez, wife of Erik Menéndez, shared a statement on social media attributed to “virtually the entire extended family” of Erik and Lyle Menéndez criticizing Murphy's Netflix series “Monsters.”

The group of family members, which according to the statement consists of 24 people, criticized the show as a “phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare that is not only full of falsehoods and outright untruths, but ignores the latest exculpatory revelations.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Netflix and Murphy representatives for comment.

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story” centers on the Menéndez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. The brothers argued they acted in self-defense after years of abuse by their father, José Menéndez.

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Erik Menendez (center) and his brother Lyle (L) are pictured in Beverly Hills on August 12, 1991.

In an earlier statement, Erik Menéndez criticized the Netflix show for its “caricature of Lyle based on terrible and blatant lies” and its “dishonest portrayal” of her story.

The extended family said in their own statement that they were victims of the “grotesque shock drama” and that Murphy “never spoke to us” before the show.

Erik MenendezCriticizes Ryan Murphy and Netflix for “dishonest portrayal” of his parents’ murders

“The character assassination of Erik and Lyle, our nephews and cousins, under the guise of 'storytelling' is disgusting,” they said.

“We know these men. We grew up with them since they were boys. We love them and are close to them to this day. We also know what was going on in their home and what an unimaginably turbulent life they went through. Several of them.” We witnessed many atrocities that should never be witnessed.

“It is sad that Ryan Murphy, Netflix and everyone else involved in this series have no understanding of the impact of years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Maybe 'Monsters' is just about Ryan Murphy after all.” .”

“Monsters” star Nicholas Alexander Chaveresponds after Erik Menendez criticizes the Netflix series

One of the most controversial elements of the series is the suggestion that Erik and Lyle Menéndez may have had an incestuous relationship. In one episode they kiss on the lips, while in another their mother walks in on them showering together. The final scene is presented as a theory by journalist Dominick Dunne, played by Nathan Lane, who hypothesizes that the brothers may have killed their parents to cover up their relationship.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Murphy defended the show by saying his intention was to include multiple perspectives on what was happening.

“The mission of the show is to present the viewpoints and theories of so many people who were involved in the case,” Murphy said. “Dominick Dunne has written several articles about this theory. We present his point of view, just as we present the point of view of (Menéndez attorney) Leslie Abramson. We had a duty to show all of that and we did.”

In their statement, the family described Dunne, who died in 2009, as “a pro-law enforcement hack.”

Murphy also told ET that it was “interesting” that Erik Menéndez made a statement “without having seen the show,” adding, “I would say that 60-65% of our show, in the Scripts and in film form revolve around the abuse that they claim happened to them and we are doing it very carefully and giving them their day in court.”

Family slam show from the Menendez brothers, Ryan Murphy

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