Monsters' Cooper Koch Says He Felt an 'Immediate Connection' with Erik Menéndez During Prison Visit (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Cooper Koch (left) and Nicholas Alexander Chavez in ‘Monsters: The Menéndez Brothers Story’ on Netflix.Photo:Netflix

Netflix

Days after the premiere ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, in which he portraysErik Menéndez,Cooper Kochpaid the brothersa visit in prisonalongsideKimandKhloé Kardashianand their mom,Kris Jenner.

When the moment came at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, “there was an immediate connection,” Koch says. “I got to hug both of them, and I sat next to Erik in this circle with all the other incarcerated individuals who were telling their stories, and they were both so kind. They’re amazing people.”

Koch portrays Erik oppositeNicholas Alexander Chavez’s Lyle in the Netflix series about the brothers' murder of their parentsJosé and Kitty. Erik, now 53, stated via his wifeTammi Menendezthathe believes the showto be “disheartening slander” featuring “vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and me.”

‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menéndez Story’ stars (from left) Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle, Chloë Sevigny as Kitty, Javier Bardem as José and Cooper Koch as Erik.Courtesy Of Netflix

Courtesy Of Netflix

“I get it,” Koch says of the criticism. “I understand that he would feel that way. This is really tough stuff. This is his life, and his life has a lot of trauma. It’s a tragedy. And he’s still in prison, so I understand how difficult it would be. I stand with him.”

Erik and Lyle’s relatives alsoreleased a statementabout their thoughts onMonsters, calling it “repulsive,” “grotesque” and an “episodic nightmare” that “ignores the most recent exculpatory revelations.”

“It’s hard,” Koch says of hearing the Menéndez family’s take. “We did a lot of work, and I just hope they know that I sympathize so much. I understand how difficult this must be for them. This is their family and their lives, and I know they want to bring them home.”

‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menéndez Story’ stars (from left) Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Ari Graynor and Cooper Koch.Netflix

“The second trial, they weren’t allowed to talk about the sexual abuse. They had one jury, instead of two. There were no cameras. And the DA who was going to be reelected needed to have a conviction becauseOJ got off, all the cops fromthe Rodney King trialgot off, so they needed to have someone,” Koch says. “I think they were just caught in the perfect storm.”

The actor notes that the discussion around sexual abuse in the ‘90s also played a factor in the verdict.

“People couldn’t believe that something like that could happen at the time, that a father would sexually abuse his children,” Koch says. “This does not discredit the conduct that was taken. I do not think that they should have killed their parents. I think that was a horrible, horrible thing that they did, and they definitely should have served time for that. But they have, and I think the time’s up.”

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

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com