Cooper Koch, the actor who portrayed Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has spoken about meeting the real brothers in prison. Depicting the murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez at the hands of their sons, along with the highly publicized murder trials that followed, season 2 of the Ryan Murphy true crime anthology show has sparked no small degree of controversy since its September 19 release. Shortly after the show began streaming on Netflix, the real-life Erik released a statement condemning the show’s portrayal of his brother Lyle and the circumstances surrounding their crimes.
Speaking with Variety, Koch revealed that he recently visited both brothers in prison and sympathizes with Erik’s criticisms. Revealing that he was invited to accompany Kim Kardashian on a visit to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility to discuss prison reform with inmates, Koch says that Erik Menendez was the first person he saw upon entering the prison gymnasium. Describing him as a kind individual, Koch praises the work both brothers are doing to improve the lives of their fellow inmates. He said:
We just looked at each other, and immediately embraced. He was so kind. Lyle, too, I got to hug both of them and just be in their presence. They’re such upstanding individuals. They’ve done so much work in their prison. Erik teaches meditation and speech classes, and they’re doing this Greenspace project to improve the prison grounds. It was just amazing.
Koch also revealed that the two spoke about Erik’s criticisms of Monster season 2, and admitted that he understands why Erik would feel the way he does about the show televising “the worst part of your life, such a traumatic and tragic thing” for millions of viewers worldwide. Moreover, he feels that both brothers deserve a re-trial. Check out his comments below:
They committed the crime when they were 18 and 21 years old, and at the time, it was really hard for people to believe that male-on-male sexual abuse could occur, especially with father and son. It was really hard for people to understand that the story that they were telling was true, and this theory that they killed their parents for money is just bonkers. But it was easier for people at the time to sort of swallow that story. But now, after 35 years, we have so much more evidence of child sexual abuse and male-on-male sexual abuse that I think they do deserve to be retried. And everything that happened in that second trial too, they weren’t allowed to use their sexual abuse claims.
What The Menendez Brothers’ Criticisms Mean For Ryan Murphy’s Monster Show
The Netflix Show Has Been A Magnet For Controversy Since Season 1
With Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story shooting to the top of the Netflix viewership charts just days after its release, interest in Murphy’s true-crime show does not appear to have waned following the equally impassioned criticism leveled at season 1. Despite attempts to avoid glorifying the abhorrent crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, many critics accused the show of veering uncomfortably close to exploitation. Similarly, Monster season 2’s depiction of Erik and Lyle Menendez has also drawn fire for its portrayal of its real-life subjects, further highlighting the inherent difficulties and moral complexities involved in dramatizing real-world crimes.
Much like his co-star and onscreen brother, Lyle Menendez actor Alexander Chavez has also revealed that he sympathizes with the Menendez brothers and acknowledges the difficulty in seeing their most traumatic moments dramatized for all to see. While Dahmer himself was not alive to see his own portrayal by Evan Peters, many of his victims’ families and loved ones were among the show’s most vocal detractors following season 1’s release.
Our Take On Cooper Koch Visiting The Real Menendez Brothers
It Is Easy To Forget These Shows Are More Than Entertainment
The appeal of true-crime shows like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story cannot be overstated, and with the recent revelation that Monster season 3 will focus on serial murderer Ed Gein, Netflix does not seem set to stop their hit series anytime soon. However, Koch’s recent prison visit serves as a stark reminder that these kinds of shows are far more than simple entertainment.
Not only do they draw further attention to some of society’s most talked-about offenses, but they impact countless real-world people in their attempts to dramatize the events they depict. Effectively balancing the need for engaging storytelling with a desire for an unbiased and objective account is a challenging task for even the most seasoned creatives, and one that can cause unintended and unforeseen harm even when approached with the utmost care. In the case of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, its depiction of a real crime has caused more trouble than expected.
Source: Variety