This article mentions murder.
Spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez story ahead!
Netflix’s Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez The infamous OJ Simpson – introducing an unexpected character – raises questions about whether Lyle and Eric Menendez had a real connection to the infamous former athlete. Ryan Murphy’s true crime TV show garnered attention, both positive and negative, for its portrayal of the Jeffrey Dahmer case, and the show surprisingly received a second season centered on the true story of Lyle and Eric Menendez.
Regardless of one’s perception of the story’s portrayal, the monster The Season 2 cast gave strong performances, including a surprise addition to the show – Trey Island as OJ Simpson. This fictional version never appears on screenBut his voice is heard. The final phase of the Simpson trial also influenced the case of the Menendez brothers the monster Season 2. Given Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric MenendezThe inclusion of the famous person, the audience will not be left wondering if the brothers actually had a relationship with the former athlete.
Lyle and Eric Menendez knew OJ Simpson since the 70s
Lyle and Eric met OJ Simpson with their father, Jose Menendez
One of Netflix’s most surprising moments Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez An unlikely friendship develops between the Menendez brothers and OJ Simpson. Surprisingly, the three had a relationship at two separate points in real life. Lyle and Eric Menendez first met Simpson in the mid-1970s when their father, Jose Menendez, was instrumental in setting up an endorsement deal between the famous football player and Hertz rental cars. Lyle said people:
“[Jose] became the head of a company and they went into heavy advertising, and they had this novel idea of having a sports hero. More people knew OJ for that [the TV ads] More than anything else… what happened happened before.”
The athlete not only had a professional relationship with Jose; Soon I developed a personal relationship with the family. Simpson would visit Menendez’s Southern California home to spend time with Jose and play catch with the boys.. He even autographed footballs and gifted them to Lyle and Eric Menendez. This foundation between the three would contribute to their friendship nearly 20 years later.
Robert Shapiro was the Menendez Brothers lawyer before OJ Simpson
Robert Shapiro represented Eric Menendez until Leslie Abramson took over
After Eric and Lyle Menendez killed their parents and were arrested, lawyer Robert Shapiro took Eric Menendez on as a client. Because the brothers were tried separately in the first go-round, they each had their own legal representation. Like in Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric MenendezEric surrendered to authorities after Shapiro returned to the United States from a tennis tournament. The lawyer continued to represent Eric until after his first sentencing. When Shapiro began representing OJ Simpson, Lyle expressed his concern. I said Robert Rand, the author The Menendez MurdersThe following:
I have expressed my concern about it [lawyer] Robert Shapiro didn’t let him tell the truth. I said that I knew it was obviously not planned and that she was overcome with emotion.
In the end, despite Lyle’s concerns, Simpson stuck with the lawyer and the rest of the “Dream Team,” the nickname for the 11 lawyers who represented the athlete in court. This works for him, as Simpson was famously acquitted of his alleged crimeswhich is shown at the end Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez.
OJ Simpson went to the same prison as Lyle and Eric Menendez
The Menendez Brothers instructed OJ Simpson to survive in prison
Nearly two decades after they first met, Lyle and Eric Menendez reunited with OJ Simpson at the Los Angeles County Men’s Jail. The Menendez brothers had been in jail for more than four years when Simpson was arrested and charged with stabbing his ex-wife Nicole Simpson Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. He was placed in the cell next to Eric Menendez. The two spoke to each other through their cell doors (via the New York Post).
Eric also implied in his statement that the Los Angeles County DA was more interested in getting a guilty verdict than getting a trial due to failures in previous cases.
Additionally, Eric wrote a letter that gave the athlete advice on how to get through prison and look to the future. Eric even used his connections to set up Simpson with lawyer Johnnie Cochrane. Lyle Menendez also had a relationship with Simpson while in prison together. The couple had more than 100 conversations in the attorney’s room while waiting for their lawyers. Lyle told journalist Robert Rand that he believed the football player committed the murder and suggested he take a plea deal.. I even suggested Simpson share his side of the story.
Despite the amicable relationship, Eric thinks the Simpsons’ case, which ended eight days ago, hurt their second trial. In The Menendez Murders: Eric Tells AllI said, “OJ’s ruling had a very negative impact on our case.” Eric also implied in his statement that the Los Angeles County DA was more interested in getting a guilty verdict than getting a trial because of the previous case. This sentiment is also reflected in its last episode Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez.
Source:The Menendez Murders By Robert Rand, People and the New York Post