The two weeks after Ryan Murphy's release Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez they haven't exactly been quiet.
In the wake of the nine-part series that detailed and often dramatized the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez at the hands of their children, the Menendez family complained about the portrayal, millions of Netflix subscribers watched, and Kim Kardashian visited a California prison where the Menendez brothers are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. On Thursday, though, things got really interesting. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that their case was under review for possible resentencing, following allegations of abuse made by the Menendez brothers against their late parents – allegations ignored in the trial that led to their convictions but strengthened by his portrayal of Murphy. Netflix drama and other key developments. (It's also no small matter that the world's most famous prison reformist published an editorial calling for their release.)
Murphy, who has been on a somewhat unprecedented spree recently launching six new shows in 10 days, hopped on the phone Thursday night to discuss the latest developments, giving Kardashian a first look at the show and why he doesn't believe the aggrieved Menendez family. members even watched the show in its entirety.
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All this happened in a relatively short time.
He did and yet he didn't. The launch of everything today is interesting. When you do a show like this, you have sources and you talk to people. I had heard about the amount of people who watched the show and bombed the governor's office and the district attorney's office. The show put the spotlight on this case. Many people were outraged by this.
I don't know if this was your original plan, but the reality of the possible reopening of this case must have entered the picture at some point. Was it a wish from the beginning?
No, I was interested in talking about sexual abuse. While we were doing it, though, Nicholas [Chavez] and Cooper [Koch]'s performances were so empathetic that I thought they would change hearts and minds. When you see episodes four and five [which detail the abuse the brothers claim their parents inflicted]I think we're giving the Menendez brothers a platform to talk about their perspective on what they claim happened to them. I find it ironic that their family condemned him so strongly and with so much anger. [Those episodes] they are probably one of the things that led to the understanding of this case and a step towards justice.
As I've always said, that second trial was just horrible. They didn't have their day in court. Certain things that should have been presented as evidence and deemed admissible were not. If you look at the analysis of what the jury did, they had no interest in sexual abuse or even understanding. I knew when we were making it that it would outrage some people like Rosie O'Donnell and the Menendez family, but I also thought it would make a lot of people feel empathy and compassion towards them.
People like Kim Kardashian.
A month before the show came out, Kim, who is my friend, called me and asked me to see it. I gave her a preview and she said she had no idea about all this stuff. I feel like a lot of people feel that way.
Did you know the essay was coming out today?
I knew it. I love Kim. What it does for prison reform is amazing. I support it 100%. She went to that prison to talk to many people and met Erik and Lyle. He told me about it and Kim's view is that you shouldn't send anyone to prison forever. There are always ways to rehabilitate and look at cases in a new way, especially if justice has not been afforded. I told her to do her thing. She is passionate about justice in this case, as I think she has been for dozens of others. There is great power in his defense.
Did you have any indication that Gascon would make this announcement today?
I had no idea. Again, I talked to people. I know there was enormous public pressure. But some people have been working tirelessly on behalf of these brothers for a long time and believe that the issue of sexual abuse should have been looked into more thoroughly. Some of them that have just come to light should be re-examined. But the timing of this announcement and Kim, I think to a large extent the power of television. There is something very powerful about watching these real life stories. I've seen it time and time again in my career. Look at what Sarah Paulson did and how that show rehabilitated Marcia Clark's reputation in the court of public opinion. And it's not always real life. Look what Cheerfulness done for patronage.
Going back to the family's response for a moment, do you think they've seen the entire series?
No, no, no. I don't think you'd make a statement like that after watching episode five. Episode five is basically a multi-million dollar commercial for the re-examination of the case, which is happening now. I never understood it. Like I said, this show is the best thing to happen to these brothers in 30 years because it put their case in the spotlight. You can say it wasn't the true story – and I think a lot of it was the true story – but we'll never know the true story. I knew all of this was going to happen before the show even arrived, because Tammi Menendez wrote me a very heated email almost a year ago, claiming that we were introducing the wrong monsters. I didn't even answer her. Just wait until you see episode five. Let's see if you change your tone. Unfortunately, it appears they didn't. It's up to them, not me.
All of this makes you wonder what will happen next. We hear a lot about district attorney's offices reopening cases, but it often never gets anywhere.
I think there are many things that can be highlighted overwhelmingly. And you can't underestimate Kim Kardashian's support. She is taken so seriously in these matters. By the way, it doesn't do this for everyone. She's very attentive and I think Kim always gets it right. I do not know. This seems different to me. But you're right. Sometimes it just comes out in a whiff. But I think there was a series of quiet victories. I think they probably deserve their time in court, at least with some of this new evidence. And then it is up to the courts to decide. I hope they get equity. And that's how courts are supposed to work, right?