When the real Erik Menendez accused Netflix’s “Monsters” of being factually wrong, he wasn’t just attacking a TV show. He was challenging who gets to tell his story—and who profits from it. The AT&T commercial star who plays the prosecutor in that story adds an unexpected layer to the debate: familiar faces from advertising now populate the machinery that turns real trauma into prestige entertainment.
The Series Puts a Familiar Face in the Prosecutor’s Chair—And the Narrative Stakes Have Never Been Higher
Milana Vayntrub, best known as Lily Adams in AT&T commercials, appears in two episodes of Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” as a dramatized version of prosecutor Pamela Bozanich. According to tvline.com, her introduction comes in the seventh episode, where she informs journalist Dominick Dunne that Erik Menendez allegedly received sexual favors from other prisoners while awaiting trial. In the eighth episode, she reprises the role in courtroom sequences, accusing Erik of lying. The casting is a deliberate choice: a performer associated with warmth and approachability now embodies the figure who, in the show’s framing, worked to discredit the brothers’ abuse claims.
The controversy around “Monsters” predates Vayntrub’s involvement. Erik Menendez has publicly called the series full of “blatant lies,” particularly regarding an incestuous relationship between the brothers that both have vehemently denied and for which no evidence was ever presented in court. As CNN reported, Erik stated the show takes “painful truths several steps backward.” Indiewire described the series as “a messy, salacious slog,” while Variety’s review concluded it “sucks.” The Vox analysis argued that the show’s “slick, oversaturated ’80s filter, seedy tone, and obsession with wealth” ultimately undermines the abuse claims at the heart of the case—despite recently uncovered evidence supporting those claims.
Ryan Murphy defended the series, telling Forbes it is “the best thing to happen to the Menendez brothers in 30 years.” The show did trigger a legal review: Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón initiated a resentencing review, stating he does not believe the brothers are a danger to society. The series became Netflix’s top-ranked show worldwide upon release and earned 11 Emmy nominations. Yet the paradox remains: a drama that may have helped the brothers legally has also, in Erik’s view, distorted their story beyond recognition.
What This Actually Means
Vayntrub’s presence in “Monsters” is a reminder that true crime entertainment is built on recognizable faces and familiar brands—including the performers themselves. When a prosecutor is played by someone audiences associate with friendly sales pitches, the line between documentary responsibility and dramatic license blurs further. Erik Menendez’s accusation cuts to the core: who controls the narrative when real lives become content? Netflix and Murphy have the platform; the brothers have only their objections from prison. The debate over “Monsters” is not about whether the show is good television. It is about who gets to decide what counts as fact when the cameras roll.
Background
What is Monsters? “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is the second season of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix true-crime anthology. It premiered in September 2024 and covers the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez by their sons Lyle and Erik. The brothers were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life without parole; a 2025 resentencing made them parole-eligible.
Who is Milana Vayntrub? An American actress and comedian known for her decade-long role as Lily Adams in AT&T commercials. She has appeared in “This Is Us,” “Other Space,” and voices Squirrel Girl in Marvel projects. Her role as prosecutor Pam Bozanich in “Monsters” marks a shift into darker, fact-based drama.