The creator of the Netflix show Monster slammed viewers who tune in to the true-crime series because it's about murder. Ryan Murphy has created numerous hit shows over the years, including Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story and 9-1-1. The TV producer then set his sights once again on the ever-popular true-crime genre with the launch of Monster on Netflix.
Each season of the anthology series focuses on a different crime story, with the first being about Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters. The sophomore season centered on Lyle and Erik Menendez, and the upcoming Monster season 3, premiering October 3, will be about Ed Gein. A fourth season, telling the story of Lizzie Borden, is already in the works.
While promoting Monster season 3, subtitled The Ed Gein Story, Murphy opened up to The New York Times about the new storyline and the sensationalism of the true-crime genre.
Murphy admitted that the crimes themselves aren't the most interesting aspect of telling these stories. He then went on to criticize viewers who only want to talk about the murders after watching a show like Monster. Check out his comments below:
To me, what's interesting is not so much the crimes but everything else that surrounds the crimes. If you walk away from Ed Gein and all you want to talk about are the two murders, well, that says a lot about you.
What Ryan Murphy Criticizing True-Crime Fans Means For Monster
Ed Gein in Monster season 3
The true-crime genre has exploded in popularity in recent years across TV shows, documentaries, podcasts and books. Murphy himself is no stranger to the genre after creating American Crime Story and American Sports Story, which, so far, have focused on such figures as O.J. Simpson, Gianni Versace, and Aaron Hernandez.
Murphy's blunt reaction to viewers who only watch Monster for the murder is his way of reminding everyone of the reality behind the headlines and the crimes.
With a true-crime story that involves murder, there is a victim (or victims) who sometimes gets lost in the discussion because so many people are sensationalizing the crime itself and forgetting that a real person died.
When tuning in to The Ed Gein Story, Murphy hopes viewers understand the somber nature of the story and how the criminal justice system is set up.
Our Take On Ryan Murphy's Reminder About True-Crime Stories
Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in Monster
Murphy is absolutely right that the sensationalism of true-crime stories has resulted in consumers focusing more on the murders than about the victims and the circumstances that led to the crimes happening in the first place.
Interestingly, when Monster first debuted, critics complained that Murphy was glorifying Dahmer's crimes, and the family members of Dahmer's victims were horrified by the trauma Murphy was causing with his show.
Perhaps the lesson is that, amid Monster's return, viewers and creators alike need to tread carefully when consuming and adapting tragic and horrendous stories.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story season 3 premieres Friday, October 3 on Netflix.
