Cooper Koch, the actor who portrayed Erik Menendez Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez StoryTalked about meeting the real brothers in prison. The murders 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 caused no small degree of controversy since its release on September 19. Soon 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.
Talk to Variety, Koch revealed that he recently visited both brothers in prison and sympathizes with Eric’s criticism. 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 Erik Menendez was the first person he saw when he entered the prison gymnasium . Koch describes him as a good individual, and praises the work that both brothers do to improve the lives of their co-workers. He said:
We just looked at each other and immediately hugged. He was so good. Lyle, too, I need to hug them both and just be in their presence. They are such outstanding people. They have done so much work in their prison. Erik teaches meditation and speech classes, and they do the greenspace project to improve the prison grounds. It was just amazing.
Koch also revealed that the two talked about Erik’s criticism of Monster season 2, and admitted that he understands why Erik would feel the way he does about the TV show”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 retrial. Check out his comments below:
They committed the crime when they were 18 and 21 years old, and at that time, it was really hard for people to believe that male-on-male sexual abuse could happen, especially with father and son. It was really hard for people to understand that the story they were telling was true, and the theory that they killed their parents for money was just bonkers. But it was easier for people at the time to sort of swallow the 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 deserve to be retrieved. And everything that happened in the second trial as well, they were not 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, the interest in Murphy’s true-crime show did not change after the immediately impassioned criticism of season 1. Despite attempts to avoid glorifying the brutal crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer many critics accused The show veers uncomfortably close to exploitation. so too, Monster Season 2’s depiction of Erik and Lyle Menendez also drew 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 screen brother, Lyle Menendez actor Alexander Chavez has also revealed that he sympathizes with the Menendez brothers and acknowledged the difficulty of seeing their most traumatic moments dramatized for all to see. While Dahmer himself did not live 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 the release of season 1.
Our take on Cooper Koch visits the real Mendez brothers
It’s easy to forget that these shows are more than entertainment
The appeal of true crime shows how Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Can not be overstated, and with the latest revelation that Monster Season 3 will focus on serial killer Ed Gein, Netflix can’t seem to stop their hit series anytime soon. However, Koch’s recent prison visit serves as a stark reminder of that These kinds of shows are much more than simple entertainment.
Not only do they continue to draw attention to some of society’s most prevalent crimes, 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, His depiction of a real crime has caused more trouble than expected.
Source: Variety