OP-ED: The Dangerous Glamor of True Crime

How Ryan Murphy's 'Menendez Brothers' series exposes racial bias in the criminal justice system

AN OPINION by Johanna Elattar

When Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of brutally murdering their parents José and Kitty Menendez in 1989, the crime shocked the world. Two wealthy young men raised in privilege shot their parents in cold blood, citing years of emotional and sexual abuse as justification. Ultimately, they were sentenced to life in prison without parole – a reflection of the seriousness of their crime. But despite this tragic history, the Menendez brothers are now back in the spotlight, thanks in large part to Ryan Murphy's latest addition Monster Series, The story of Lyle and Erik Menendez.

On the trail of Dahmerabout the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, Murphy's new series has once again captured the public's fascination. But as viewers watch the Menendez brothers come to life on screen — brooding, tortured and portrayed by attractive actors — it's hard not to wonder whether we're witnessing history or fiction. With sophisticated production, dramatic lighting and a tragic backstory Monster seems to portray Lyle and Erik as deeply misunderstood souls, victims of their upbringing and a justice system that has failed them.

While the Menendez brothers' allegations of abuse deserve attention, it is disturbing that their story is portrayed as a dark tale of misunderstood criminals rather than two people who murdered their parents in cold blood. And this glorification of certain criminals, particularly those who are white and wealthy, points to a deeper problem in both the justice system and the popular media — a strong bias that often casts privileged criminals in a favorable light while simultaneously imposing disproportionately harsh sentences -dimensional representations persist for people of color.

In recent years, true crime has become a booming genre, captivating audiences with stories of real-life horror. But as the genre has evolved, a troubling trend has also emerged: privilege often shapes the narrative. The Menendez brothers, with their Hollywood-worthy backstory, are portrayed as tragic antiheroes whose crimes stem from alleged psychological trauma. But a study in Crime, media, culture highlights a pervasive problem in true crime narratives: white and wealthy criminals are often portrayed with a depth and complexity that the media rarely provides to people of color accused of similar crimes (Greer & Reiner, 2012).

Ryan Murphys Monster He takes up this trend and offers sympathetic performances that captivate the audience and almost make us forget the horror of the crimes themselves. Jeffrey Dahmer, portrayed with psychological nuances in Dahmerwas shown in such a way that the victims' families felt retraumatized. His humanity was highlighted before the voices of families devastated by his crimes and who expressed outrage that their trauma was being reduced to entertainment material (Washington Post, 2022).

This bias is not limited to the realm of television; it reflects the glaring disparities in the justice system. The Conviction Project shows that black men receive, on average, nearly 20% longer prison sentences for similar crimes than their white counterparts. In the media, true crime stories often highlight the alleged traumas of white criminals and portray them as victims of circumstance, while black or Latino characters rarely receive such a nuanced examination of their backstories (Sentencing Project, 2017).

For people of color accused of crimes, the narrative is too often simple: They are dangerous, irredeemable, and unworthy of public sympathy. In comparison, Lyle and Erik Menendez's allegations of abuse and tragic backstory are highlighted, earning them new sympathy despite the brutality of their actions. Media representations like Monster can influence public opinion in that in the Menendez case, her history of alleged abuse has sparked interest in a possible resentencing – despite her conviction (Los Angeles Times, 2023).

With Monster Since sympathetic portrayal helps shape public sentiment, it is easy to see how it can influence opinion and even court outcomes. Studies show that sensational media coverage of crimes, particularly when portrayed in a sympathetic light, can influence court outcomes and add weight to claims of trauma or abuse that might not otherwise have received as much attention (Haney, 2004).

The Menendez brothers, for example, are once again in front of the public and their defense is pushing for a resentencing that takes into account the alleged abuse they suffered. While these claims deserve investigation, they should not overshadow the brutal reality of their actions – but public sympathy, reinforced by media portrayals, can make this line difficult to maintain. Just as the families of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims spoke out against it DahmerWhile they call it exploitative, those close to the Menendez case fear that sensationalized depictions of true crimes could lead to the narrative being reframed away from justice and toward entertainment.

So why are we so drawn to true crime stories? Psychologists suspect it's due to our fascination with violence and tragedy, our morbid curiosity, or perhaps even our own need to understand the darkness. But a study in Psychology of popular media suggests that constant exposure to dramatized depictions of violence can desensitize audiences, causing us to forget the true suffering behind these stories (Hoffner et al., 2021). We may sympathize with criminals and imagine them as misunderstood antiheroes – tragic figures who have somehow been wronged by life or society.

But by focusing so heavily on these narratives, we risk glossing over the stark reality of the crimes. Lyle and Erik Menendez didn't just commit an abstract act of violence; They took the lives of their parents. It's important to remember that behind these headlines and media portrayals, real lives have been destroyed. José and Kitty Menendez were not characters in a Hollywood drama; they were people.

As true crime entertainment continues to grow, storytellers like Ryan Murphy should tread carefully. These are not fictional stories intended for drama – these are real lives, real families and real tragedies. While glorifying criminals boosts ratings, it distorts justice and trivializes the experiences of victims and their families. As Monster As we highlight the Menendez brothers' allegations of abuse, we should remember the actual brutality of their crime and recognize the damaging consequences of viewing criminals through a compassionate, Hollywood-filtered lens.

In the end, it is important that we ask ourselves: Does our interest in true crime serve justice or is it simply for entertainment at the expense of real tragedy?