Lyle Menendez played Milli Vanilli’s “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” as the funeral song at their parents’ memorial, but did it happen in real life?
The brutal 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez by their own sons sent shockwaves through the world, and remarkably, some details still remain unanswered to the day, making us question everything that transpired and led to the killings. It was only a matter of time before the streaming giant Netflix would bring this tragedy to the forefront.
The latest anthology series, ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,’ which premiered on September 19, goes deep into the brothers’ troubled upbringing and the fallout from the murders. But before all of this, the show starts with a surreal funeral scene, where Milli Vanilli is played as a tribute to their parents. The whole sequence is confusing because on one hand, it shows the weird dynamics of grief and guilt, but on the other hand, viewers can’t help but wonder if it was used to dramatize the show.
Girl I’m Gonna Miss You: Did the Menendez Brothers Actually Play Milli Vanilli’s Song at Their Parents’ Funeral in Real Life?
In ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ on Netflix, one of the most surprising and rather unusual moments arrives when Lyle Menendez decides to play Milli Vanilli’s “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” at his parents’ funeral. This has left fans confused about whether it actually happened in real life or it’s just something that was added to elevate the drama in the show.
On Twitter, a user called @IAmSarahWalters asked,
Did the menendez brothers really play milli vanilli at their parent’s funeral?
Another user @EmilinaB was equally confused, writing:
I’m pretty familiar with the Menendez brothers story but I don’t remember Milli Vanilli being played at the funeral. Is that true or was this an embellishment added for the dramatization of the show?
Well, it might come as a surprise to many, but it’s true. That particular Milli Vanilli song was indeed played at the funeral for real.
Why Did Lyle Menendez Choose to Play Milli Vanilli as the Funeral Song?
On August 25, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez showed up an hour late to their parents’ funeral at the Directors Guild of America in L.A., with over 400 people waiting for them. This was just about a week after the murders that shocked the world. Lyle, the older brother, gave a calm and composed eulogy, talking about his father’s strong values. But then, what really surprised everyone was when Lyle played Milli Vanilli’s hit “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” over the speakers right after his speech.
The choice of song left a lot of people confused. It wasn’t just odd because of its pop vibe, but it also didn’t match the serious mood of the funeral. Why would Lyle pick that song? In the series, his character says it expressed his emotions better than he could himself. While Milli Vanilli was a big deal back then, it didn’t really help with the awkwardness, as many mourners felt the song was totally out of place for such a somber event.
Looking back, the choice of music comes across as incredibly puzzling, something that can best describe the entire Menendez case itself. At the time, the brothers were not the top suspects, but they would be relentlessly scrutinized for moments like this later in the investigation. The series ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,’ prominently showcases the weird mix of grief and detachment the brothers showed following the murder of their parents. While the song might have had personal meaning for Lyle, it just made the whole situation weirder and added to the bizarre details that would define their story later on.
“Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” by Milli Vanilli makes its return in the closing moments of Episode 9 (the finale). The song plays when the brothers are transferred to different correctional facilities after their trial verdict is announced, and they are sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
