On September 26, actor Cooper Koch shared his experience of meeting Erik Menendez, the convicted murderer he portrayed in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” and Erik’s brother Lyle Menendez. This meeting was made possible by an invitation from Kim Kardashian. After the series premiered on September 19, Koch visited the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility outside of San Diego, where the Menendez brothers are serving life sentences for the murder of their parents in 1989.
The meeting was organized by Kim Kardashian and film producer Scott Budnick. Koch explained that they went to the correctional facility to learn about a green space project spearheaded by Lyle and Erik, aimed at creating a more rehabilitative environment within prisons, similar to the approach taken in Norway.
Koch shared that Kim Kardashian personally invited him to the meeting, and he eagerly accepted. At the facility, they gathered in a gymnasium with around 30 incarcerated individuals who openly shared their stories, creating an emotional and vulnerable atmosphere. Koch was moved by their kindness and openness and was able to meet Erik and Lyle during this visit.
Prior to the show’s premiere, Koch also had a meaningful conversation with Erik Menendez over the phone, expressing his belief in him and assuring Erik that he had put his utmost effort into portraying him accurately and authentically as an actor.
Recently the interview with actor Brian Austin Green, where he shared his experience of meeting Erik Menendez in prison. He described the moment they first saw each other in the gymnasium and how they immediately embraced. According to Green, Erik was kind and he also got to hug Lyle. Green spoke highly of the Menendez brothers, praising their contributions in prison, such as Erik teaching meditation and speech classes, as well as their involvement in a green space project to improve the prison grounds.
Green expressed his hope for the Menendez brothers to be freed one day, pointing out that they were very young when they committed the crime and emphasizing the difficulty they faced in convincing people about the male-on-male sexual abuse they experienced. He believes that with the increased awareness and evidence of such abuse, they deserve to be retried and hopes for their parole.
The actor also mentioned his spiritual connection with Erik Menendez, stating that he had always wanted to meet them and offer his support as an advocate for their cause. Green felt that meeting them was strangely normal, as he had watched and listened to them extensively over the years.
The meeting was attended by Kris Jenner, the mother of the Kardashians, and Khloé Kardashian, as mentioned by Koch in an interview with Variety. Following the premiere of the show, there was significant controversy among viewers, particularly regarding content that seemed to suggest a romantic relationship between the brothers. Erik Menendez, one of the brothers involved in the case, publicly criticized the show, stating that it was based on “horrible blatant lies” and described it as a “dishonest portrayal” in a statement released on X by his wife, Tammi Menendez. In his statement, Menendez expressed disbelief that the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, could be so uninformed and inaccurate about their lives without malicious intent. The Menendez brothers infamously shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in Beverly Hills, California, in August 1989. They were apprehended and charged with their parents’ murders approximately seven months after the tragic event. Throughout their legal proceedings, the brothers’ defense team argued that they had been subjected to sexual abuse by their parents. The first trial resulted in two hung juries, and in the subsequent trial, a judge ruled that evidence pertaining to the alleged sexual abuse by their parents would not be admissible.
Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents and were subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In a recent statement, Erik Menendez expressed concerns about the portrayal of their story in a Netflix series, highlighting the impact of childhood trauma and the importance of shedding light on such issues. He emphasized that violence is never a solution and hoped that the devastating consequences of violence against children are never forgotten.
The creator of the TV series “Monsters,” Ryan Murphy, addressed Erik Menendez’s criticism in an interview with E! News. Murphy explained that the show presents multiple perspectives and aims to present all the facts of the case, allowing viewers to form their own opinions. Cooper Koch expressed his understanding of Erik Menendez’s feelings and the challenges of having his life depicted in a dramatized TV version. Koch’s co-star, Nicholas Chavez, discussed the complexities of portraying real-life characters and the extensive research involved. Javier Bardem, also involved in the series, highlighted the importance of discussing issues such as childhood abuse, which the show addresses.
