This article contains references to murder.
Spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Ahead!
Netflix Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Introduces an unexpected character – the infamous OJ Simpson – raising the question of whether Lyle and Erik Menendez have a real connection with the notorious former athlete. Ryan Murphy’s true crime TV show gained attention, both positive and negative, for its depiction of the Jeffrey Dahmer case, and the show surprisingly earned a second season focusing on the true story of Lila and Erik Menendez.
No matter what an individual’s perception of the image of the story, the Monsters Season 2 cast had strong performances, including one surprising addition to the show – Trae Island as OJ Simpson. The fictionalized version never appeared on screenBut his voice was heard. Simpson’s trial also affects the Menendez brothers’ case in the final episode of Monsters Season 2. Granted Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storys inclusion of the famous individual, audiences would be reliable not to wonder if the brothers really have a relationship with the former athlete.
Lyle & Erik Menendez knew OJ Simpson since the ’70s
Lyle & Erik met OJ Simpson through their father, José Menendez
One of Netflix’s most surprising moments Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the unlikely friendship that develops between the Menendez brothers and OJ Simpson. Shockingly, the three had a relationship in real life at two separate time periods. Lyle and Erik Menendez first met Simpson in the mid-1970s after their father, José Menendez, played a pivotal role in setting up an endorsement deal between the famous football player and Hertz rental cars. Lyle said People:
“[Jose] It was the head of a company and they moved into heavy advertising, and they had the novel idea of ​​having a sports hero. More people knew OJ for that [the TV ads] Like anything else… before what happened, happened.”
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The athlete didn’t just have a professional relationship with Jose; He soon developed a personal relationship with the family. Simpson would visit the Menendez’s Southern California home to spend time with Jose and play catch with the boys. He even autographed footballs and gifted them to Lyle and Erik Menendez. The foundation between the three would contribute to their friendship almost 20 years later.
Robert Shapiro was a lawyer for the Menendez brothers before OJ Simpson
Robert Shapiro represented Eric Mendez until Leslie Abramson took over
After Erik and Lila Menendez killed their parents and were arrested, attorney Robert Shapiro took Erik Menendez on as a client. Because the brothers were tried separately on the first trial, they each had their own legal representation. as in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez StoryShapiro set Eric’s surrender to the authorities upon his return to the US from a tennis tournament. The lawyer continued to represent Erik until just after his first arraignment. When Shapiro began representing OJ Simpson, Lyle expressed his concerns. He tells Robert Rand, the author of The Mendez murdersThe following:
I expressed my concern that [lawyer] Robert Shapiro would not let him tell the truth. I said that I knew that it was obviously not planned and that he got caught in the heat of passion.
Ultimately, despite Lyle’s concerns, Simpson stuck with the lawyer and the rest of the “Dream Team,” the nickname for the 11 lawyers who represented the athlete in court. This worked out in his favor, viz Simpson was famously acquitted of his alleged crimesWhich is shown at the end of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
OJ Simpson went to the same prison as Lyle & Erik Menendez
The Menendez brothers offered guidance to OJ Simpson about surviving prison
About two decades after their first meeting, Lyle and Erik Menendez reunited with OJ Simpson in the Los Angeles County Men’s Jail. The Mendez brothers had been in prison for more than four years when Simpson was arrested and brought in for allegedly stabbing his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, to death. He was put in the cell next to Eric Mendez. The two talked to each other through their cell doors (through New York Post).
Eric implies in his further statements that the Los Angeles County DA was more interested in getting a guilty verdict than getting justice because of the failure in the previous case.
Additionally, Erik wrote a letter that provided the athlete with advice on how to get through prison and start looking toward the future. Eric even used his connections to help Simpson with attorney Johnnie Cochran. Lyle Menendez also had a relationship with Simpson while in prison together. The couple had over 100 conversations in the lawyer’s room while waiting for their lawyer. Lyle told journalist Robert Rand that he believed the football player committed the murder and advised him to take out a warrant.. He even suggested that Simpson share his side of the story.
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Despite the friendly relationship, Erik thinks that Simpson’s case, which ended eight days earlier, hurt their second trial. in The Menendez Murders: Eric Tells Allhe said,OJ’s verdict had a very negative effect on our case.” Eric implies in his further statements that the Los Angeles County DA was more interested in getting a guilty verdict than getting justice because of the previous case. This sentiment is also reflected in the last episode of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Sources: The Mendez murders by Robert Rand, PeopleAnd New York Post