Lyle Menendez admitted to abusing his younger brother, Erik, but the circumstances that led to it are as complicated as they come. If you’re ready to label Lyle a monster, you should definitely think again.
Since the release of ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,’ the curiosity surrounding the Menendez brothers on literally every minor detail is at its absolute peak. Now, fans are wondering, as evident by a top query on Google searches: “Did Lyle molest his brother Erik?” So, without ado, let’s explore the details.
Did Lyle Menendez Abuse His Brother Erik?
During the Menendez brothers’ trials, there were several disturbing revelations, but one of the most shocking ones undoubtedly came when Lyle Menendez admitted to abusing his younger brother, Erik.
Lyle was full of tears on the witness stand when he confessed that the abuse was a continuation of the molestation both brothers endured at the hands of their father, José Menendez. He said,
I took him out to the woods … and I took a tooth brush also and I played with Erik in the same way (my father played with me). And I’m sorry.
Could you imagine how utterly dysfunctional the house must have been if the physical, emotional, and sexual abuses were so common? Lyle’s testimony couldn’t have painted a more awful picture of the Menendez family, but the question remained, did that justify the murders?
Lyle opened up about how the abuse he inflicted on Erik mirrored what their father had done to the both of them. He revealed how José would make inappropriate physical contact while pretending it was all about bonding as father and son. Since molestation was so normalized in their home, Lyle was basically brainwashed from a young age to believe that this kind of abuse was just something that happened and was expected. Unsurprisingly, the victim himself ended up becoming an abuser, passing down the trauma to his brother. When he admitted this in court, Lyle got incredibly emotional and couldn’t stop apologizing to Erik.
While Lyle owned up for what he did and felt sorry for his actions, it’s crucial to understand just how complicated the entire case was. The brothers’ defense attorneys argued that growing up in a constantly abusive environment had a massive psychological impact on both Lyle and Erik, keeping them stuck in a cycle of trauma and control. The trial focused on whether these experiences were genuinely enough to drive the brothers to fear for their lives, ultimately leading to the brutal murder of their parents.
Despite Lyle’s admission of what happened, the nature of the abuse between him and Erik is not as straightforward because of their upbringing and how the defense framed the events. The rumors of incest that were brought up during the trial weren’t backed up by other testimonies. Instead, Lyle’s confession seemed more like part of the bigger story of family abuse rather than proof of any consensual or romantic relationship between the brothers.
Family Ties or False Narratives? The Controversy Surrounding Monsters
‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ has quickly become a massive hit on Netflix, but the show is currently embroiled in controversy for suggesting an incestuous relationship between the Menendez brothers. The backlash on social media was intense, with critics of the series voicing their support for the siblings.
Even Erik Menendez had enough, and he denounced the claims of a sexual relationship between the brothers as “lies.” The series features quite a bit of provocative scenes, where the brothers are shown to be kissing and showering together, something the viewers have interpreted as incestuous innuendo.
Robert Rand, who wrote a key book on the Menendez case, said that portraying the brothers’ relationship as incestuous is baseless and comes more from outside speculation than from the truth. Rand stressed that the only physical contact Lyle mentioned was tied to childhood trauma, not a sexual relationship. He argued that the show’s storyline is more about fantasies than actual events.
During the trial, Lyle got really emotional as he talked about the abuse he went through from his dad and how he ended up taking that out on Erik. To be fair, this whole situation was shown in the series too. So, at least they got something right. But the Menendez brothers are still unsatisfied with how their life is portrayed in the Netflix show.
Erik called out the series for spreading false narratives and misrepresenting characters, saying he was disappointed that the show set back the conversation about male sexual abuse. Erik’s statement places emphasis on how the series gets the reality of their lives wrong and oversimplifies the complexities of their trauma.
Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy jumped to defend “Monsters” after Erik Menendez called it naive and inaccurate. He found it pretty interesting that Erik made those comments without even watching the show. Murphy pointed out that a big chunk—about 60 to 65 percent—of the series really dives into the abuse and the brothers’ experiences, and they did it with a lot of care, letting them share their side in court.
He compared the storytelling to a “Rashomon” style, where you get different perspectives, especially since two of the key players are gone. Plus, he stressed that they also tried to show the parents’ side, all based on solid research.
