Javier Bardem Says He 'Never' Wanted to Meet Erik and Lyle Menéndez While Working onMonsters

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Javier Bardem, Erik and Lyle Menendez.Photo:Getty(2)

Getty(2)

WhenJavier Bardem’sMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Storycostars visited Erik and Lyle Menéndez in prison, he wasn’t very interested in tagging along.

The actor, 55, who portrays their late father, José, on theRyan Murphy-led show, admitted that he “didn’t want to” meet the brothers in prison ahead of his performance.

“First of all, I didn’t know much or more basically anything about the story when [series co-creator] Ryan Murphy talked to me, because it wasn’t that big in Spain," he toldVariety. “And then once I dig in, I was like, ‘Wow, this is really, really sensitive material.'”

Javier Bardem as José Menéndez in ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’.Miles Crist/Netflix

Miles Crist/Netflix

When Bardem tried to read and “search for material” so he could “see or understand” José, he couldn’t find any. He only found information based on what others have said about him, “especially his children.”

“I knew I had to trust the research Ryan and [co-creator] Ian Brennan did,” he explained. “It was all there in the writing. So I said, ‘I don’t need to talk to anybody.’ And also I was very, very…the word is not scared, but I never felt for a second that I would be able to sit down with the murderers.”

Since the release ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, cast members likeCooper Kochhave paid the brothersa visit in prisonalongside sistersKimandKhloé Kardashian, as well as their mom,Kris Jenner.

(L-R) Cooper Koch, Lyle and Erik Menéndez.Roy Rochlin/Getty; AP Photo/Nick Ut

Roy Rochlin/Getty; AP Photo/Nick Ut

When the moment came at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, “there was an immediate connection,” he continued. “I got to hug both of them, and I sat next to Erik in this circle with all the other incarcerated individuals who were telling their stories, and they were both so kind. They’re amazing people.”

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Koch also touched on the criticism the brothers had about theRyan Murphyseries — whichErik described as “disheartening slander"in a statement after the show’s premiere.

“I get it. I understand that he would feel that way,” he said. “This is really tough stuff. This is his life, and his life has a lot of trauma. It’s a tragedy. And he’s still in prison, so I understand how difficult it would be. I stand with him.”

source: people.com