On the night of August 20th, 1989, José and Kitty Menendez were shot and killed in the living room of their mansion in Beverly Hills. Because of José’s success in the music and film industry, the couple was extremely wealthy and seemed to be living a perfect life with their two kids Lyle and Erik. Their sudden death shocked the nation, becoming one of the most high-profile cases of the 90s. Their two sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez, initially seemed devastated, but in the weeks that followed, suspicions grew as their lifestyles became more expensive. The investigation soon focused on the brothers, who were then arrested and charged with the killing of their parents when Lyle and Erik were 18 and 21, and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1996.
This case is much more complicated than it was reported to be at the time of the killing. Both brothers reported that they had been sexually, emotionally, and physically abused for years by their parents. According to Lyle, the abuse had started when he was just six years old, and Erik said his father raped him for over a decade until the day he was shot. However, when they were arrested, the media immediately jumped on the case, portraying the brothers as greedy cold-blooded killers, without considering the allegations of abuse. Throughout three years of trials, society continued to frame them as spoiled rich kids who had killed their parents to inherit the family’s fortune, overshadowing the hell they had endured their entire lives.
Recently, online media platforms like TikTok and Netflix have played a surprising role in reigniting interest in the brother’s case after 35 years. The Netflix series Monsters, directed by Ryan Murphy, told the story of the brothers’ life leading up to, and after the killing of their parents. This seemed to spark the most interest in Gen Z, thus causing the case to be a trending hashtag on TikTok. Users have broken down the details of the trial, researched the case further, shared their thoughts and questioned the fairness of the brother’s convictions. “…There is no question that today there would have been a greater level of sensitivity to the way the case was looked at,” Los Angeles District Attorney Gascón said.
Kim Kardashian, a media personality and entrepreneur, has been pushing for the release of the Menendez brothers since late 2023. Her involvement with the case has played a significant role in the case’s revival on social media platforms and the younger generation because she is such a popular staple in American pop culture. In response to Kardashian’s advocacy, Gen Z has started petitions pushing for the brothers’ release, and they continue to spread awareness about the truth behind this case as well as addressing issues surrounding sexual assault and the victims of cases like this, on platforms like TikTok.
Erik Menendez has also been informed of the growing support occurring on social media. He spoke to the public through a recording on his wife’s TikTok account. “I’ve been told about this interest on TikTok and the buzz but I’ve never been on it so I’m not sure what all the videos are and I’ve never seen it. It’s interesting if it can maybe help me get back to court, that would be great…I appreciate all of your guys’ support…,” Menendez said.
After TikTok users heard Erik’s message to them, it motivated them even more to continue to push for justice for the brothers’ and help keep their story alive.
Due to newly created petitions, the reawakening of this case all around the world, and recent evidence that justifies the brothers’ defense, this case has been set to have a second court hearing concerning their release around November 29th, 2024. Lyle, who is 56, and Erik, who is now 53, speak on how grateful they are to be given a second chance at life after having 35 years to heal and mature. Although social media has a lot of negative sides to it, it also has given the younger generation the ability to use their voice as a force for good. What started as a Netflix show, and turned into a TikTok trend, has now evolved into a movement that will change Lyle and Erik’s life forever.