by Rachel Klein ‘22

Social media has the power to make anyone or anything go viral overnight. For some, this means an immediate launch to stardom, more income, or something to put on a resume. However, for two brothers, this could be a chance to receive a get out of jail free card. 

On the night of August 20, 1989, the Menendez brothers brutally shot their parents to death in their Beverly Hills home. After lying to the cops for around seven months and going on a money-spending spree, the brothers were arrested in 1990. Erik, who was 18 at the time of the murders, and Lyle, who was 21, were both sent to San Diego County Jail until their trials began in 1993. It wasn’t until then that the incredibly shocking information came out that Erik and Lyle had allegedly been physically and sexually abused by their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. Their case quickly became world-wide news, and was one of the launching points for CourtTV. The brothers were tried separately, and both juries deadlocked, meaning neither could come up with a unanimous verdict. This resulted in two more trials, where Erik and Lyle were ultimately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996. 

It has been almost 32 years since the brothers took the lives of their parents, 31 years since they went to prison, and 25 years since they were sentenced to life in prison without parole. Yet recently, they have become internet sensations, all thanks to TikTok. Many people have been creating fan accounts for the brothers, and making videos about them to show their support. They believe that the brothers killed their parents out of self-defense and do not deserve to be in prison. Not only have petitions with over 60,000 signatures been going around, but people are going as far as tagging the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, in many TikToks about Erik and Lyle. 

Because of their new popularity, Erik’s YouTube channel has gained many more subscribers. He started his channel “Justice Watchdog” four years ago, and has since gained 13,000 subscribers. On his channel, he answers questions that his new supporters ask him in the comments. The account is run by his wife, Tammi, who he married while in prison.

One of the main reasons why this case suddenly has a huge following is because of the different viewpoints on abuse between the ‘90s and now, especially regarding the abuse of men. In the docuseries, “The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All,” from 2017, a juror from the first trial of the boys stated that when the juries deadlocked, they were split in half. The half saying to convict the boys on murder charges were mainly male jurors, while the half that were more reluctant to do so were mainly female jurors. The juror explained that the men did not believe the brothers were abused by their father because they were males. People today are more accepting of the fact that males can also be victims of abuse. 

Another reason why the brothers’ case is trending is because of the rise in popularity of true crime. Recently, Netflix has come out with a few new true crime documentaries, such as “Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer” and “Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.” With the Menendez brothers’ story being one of the most popular true crime cases of all time, anyone with a sudden interest will be led in their direction. 

Other reasons behind the attention their case is receiving is a bit of mystery; however, it might have something to do with the concerning fact that many teenage girls are attracted to how Erik and Lyle looked at the time of their trials.