Ryan Murphy’s controversial Netflix drama about the Menendez brothers was criticized by the family as a “grotesque shock drama.”

In a statement, 24 members of the Menendez family attacked “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” currently the best-selling television show on the platform, and expressed their disappointment that Murphy and co-creator Ian Brennan have not contacted anyone.

The statement posted on social media calls the show a “phobic, disgusting, anachronistic nightmare of an episode series that is not only riddled with falsehoods and outright untruths, but also ignores recent exonerating revelations.”

Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. They justified the crime by citing the severe physical and sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of their father. They remain in prison to this day.

The series, which is part of the monster anthology series that began in 2022 with the successful Jeffrey Dahmer drama, has been described by the family as “character assassination.”

The statement was shared by Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, who also posted her response last week, calling it a “dishonest portrayal” and criticizing the “horrific and blatant lies” in the series.

Murphy responded to that statement earlier this week. “I think it’s interesting that he made a statement without having seen the show,” he said. “It’s really, really hard when it’s your life on the line, seeing your life on the screen.”

The series addresses sexual abuse in the Menendez brothers’ household and also hints at an incestuous relationship between the brothers, which has come under criticism since its premiere on September 19. Robert Rand, a reporter who covered the trial and wrote the 2018 book The Menendez Murders, called the claim “fantasy.”

Murphy defended the inclusion, claiming that the series “presents the viewpoints and theories of so many people who were involved in the case.” The creators were closely involved in the creation of the show with Dominick Dunne, a reporter at the time.

In Menendez’s new statement, Dunne is sharply described as “exposed” and accused of “slander.”

This week, Netflix also announced a new documentary called The Menendez Brothers, which features “extensive audio interviews” with those involved in the trial, including Lyle and Erik. The documentary will be released on October 7.

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” starring Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny, garnered over 12 million views in its opening weekend, topping the charts, albeit behind Dahmer.

Reaction from critics was mostly negative. Jesse Hassenger of the Guardian called the novel “exhausting” and “repetitive,” while Aramide Tinubu of Variety accused the novel of having “no idea what it wants to be.”

The next season was recently confirmed and will revolve around the notorious killer Ed Gein, played by Charlie Hunnam. Gein was considered an inspiration for Norman Bates, Leatherface and Buffalo Bill.