Cooper Koch Says He Can 'Empathize with' Erik Menéndez's Critique ofMonsters: It 'Definitely Affected Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez.Photo:Miles Crist/Netflix

Miles Crist/Netflix

Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menéndez inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story,is speaking out about the ongoing backlash to the show.

After the Menéndez brothers and the public began to criticize Ryan Murphy’sMonstersfor its portrayal of them — particularly the sexual relationship between the two — the cast is reacting. Koch toldVarietythat he understands where people are coming from.

“In terms of approaching him and approaching the part, I just really wanted to do as much research and dig really deep into myself to really portray him with integrity and just be as authentic as possible to support him and also to support his family and all the people who stand with him,” Koch added.

Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez.Courtesy Of Netflix

Courtesy Of Netflix

Erik had previously come out with astatement about the nine-episode series, saying that the show was “rooted in horrible and blatant lies” about him and brother Lyle, slamming Murphy for airing false information. Thestatementwas also posted on Lyle’ssocial media.

“Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth,” he continued. “How demoralizing is it to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma.”

Erik and Lyle Menendez in 1992.VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty

VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty

On Sept. 23, Murphy toldEntertainment Tonightthat he had “many things to say about that” statement.

“I think it’s interesting that [Erik] issued a statement without having seen the show,” he explained. “I know he hasn’t seen the show in prison. I hope he does see the show. I think he sees the work that Cooper Koch did.”

Murphy expressed empathy for the fact that the Menéndez brothers have to see their “life up on screen,” calling it “really, really hard.”

“If you watch the show, I would say 60 to 65 percent of our show, in the scripts and in the film form, center around the abuse and what they claim happened to them,” he explained. “We do it very carefully, and we give them their day in court, and they talk openly about it, we present the facts from their point of view.”

Ryan Murphy.Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Knowing it could be controversial to show any type of sexual abuse, Murphy said his team spent three years researching the Menéndez brothers’ case and decided to take a “Rashomon kind of approach.”

“There were four people involved in that. Two of them are dead and two of them are alive,” he told the outlet. “But what about the parents? We had an obligation to storytellers to also try and put in their perspective, based on our research, which we did.”

Javier Bardem, who plays José Menéndez in the show, also spoke toVariety,saying that he wasn’t aware of the contents of Erik’s response but can see why he would be upset.

“I know he has spoken, but I haven’t read it,” Bardem said. “But of course it’s absolutely normal, logical and legitimate to say what you think about your own life being on a show. I support that. [Series creators] Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan give different perspectives, different views of the same issue because nothing is set in stone."

He added: “That also includes the way to perform the character. We have to be open as actors to play and shift from one perspective to the other, depending on who are who is telling the story.”

Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez.Miles Crist/Netflix

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Storyis about Erik and Lyle’s murder of their parentsJosé and Mary Louse “Kitty” Menéndez. It then follows them into the subsequent trial in the early ’90s.

The brothers murdered their parents in their family home in Beverly Hills in August 1989, withLyle later calling 911sobbing about finding their parents dead when they returned home from a movie.

Erik and Lyle were eventually both arrested and found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole and are currently serving time at theRichard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

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Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com