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After an intense weekend in which the Menendez brothers blasted Ryan Murphy for his version of their story on Netflix, things seem to be changing for Lyle and Erik. Kim Kardashian and her family visited them, and they will have a documentary.
Netflix announced that the brothers will be the subject of a new documentary, which will show them speaking from prison. Their case has resurfaced in the media due to the popularity of the new Netflix series, "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," which premiered this past weekend.
"The trailer for the documentary, which will be available on Netflix on October 7, shows Erik and Lyle promising that this time the truth about their life and the crime will be revealed in their own words. 'Everyone asks why we killed our parents,' says Erik in the preview, 'maybe now people will understand the truth.'
This documentary will not only revive the case from the brothers' perspective, but it will also analyze the media impact and public perception that developed around them," said Netflix in a press release.
A visit from The Kardashians
In a surprise twist of this episode in the U.S. true crime history, Kim Kardashian visited Lyle and Erik Menéndez at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where the brothers are serving life sentences for the murder of their parents.
Accompanied by her sister Khloé Kardashian, mother Kris Jenner, filmmaker Scott Budnick, and actor Cooper Koch (who portrays Erik Menéndez in the series), Kim visited the prison to discuss prison reform initiatives. According to a report by entertainment outlet TMZ, she also addressed the importance of rehabilitation programs for inmates, aiming to help them reintegrate into society after serving their time.
During the visit, the group met with approximately 40 inmates, including the Menéndez brothers, whose presence was unexpected. In the context of the newly announced documentary, maybe not.
Kim Kardashian's Connection to Ryan Murphy
The appearance of the Menéndez brothers was initially surprising because Erik Menéndez had previously expressed harsh criticism of Murphy, the producer behind several of Kim's projects and the Netflix series about their story. Murphy also cast her in her first acting role for the twelfth season of American Horror Story.
Erik, through his wife Tammi Menéndez, took to social media (X, formerly Twitter) during the weekend to accuse the Netflix series of damaging his and his brother's reputation. He also argued that the show undermines the recovery of victims of sexual abuse. In a lengthy statement, Erik said, "It deeply saddens me to believe that Ryan Murphy cannot be so naive or inaccurate about the facts of our lives to make this show without ill intent."
Erik's response to the Netflix's series.#NetflixMonsters #Netflix #RyanMurphy pic.twitter.com/Xz1waxA2u3
— Tammi Menendez (@TammiMenendez1) September 20, 2024
In a conversation with Chloë Sevigny (who plays Kitty Menéndez in Monsters) for Variety's Actors on Actors series, Kim revealed her personal connection to the Menéndez case. "I grew up on the same street where everything happened, and we all went to the same school. I remember hearing about the case, but it was my father who took me to the house and told me the full story," she said.
Kim Kardashian's Advocacy for Prison Reform
As an aspiring lawyer, Kim Kardashian has been involved in advocating for prison reform and working to help those wrongfully convicted or serving excessively harsh sentences. Her activism in this area includes participating in high-profile discussions about improving prison conditions and the rights of inmates.
In April, she attended a meeting at the White House, where she spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris about clemency for 16 individuals. She also listened to the personal testimonies of four people who had been incarcerated.
Kim has also supported President Joe Biden's granting of over 120 pardons, particularly for nonviolent drug offenders in Washington and other federal jurisdictions. Her advocacy dates back to 2016, when she first began speaking out about the need for criminal justice reform during Donald Trump's presidency.
The question is whether the series, the visit, and the documentary will affect the Menendez brother's future, as they haven't given up hope of finding a way to regain their freedom. In March of 1996, both brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
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