Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story The show gained huge popularity in pop music for the wrong reasons, and has been a hit since its September debut. The controversy surrounding the show’s main subject, which in certain ways glorifies the killer, is something you will have seen if you have been following the news.
It became one the most-watched series on Netflix when it was quietly removed (there was a release or interview with the actors as it is usually done). Ryan Murphy, however, became the subject of much criticism. The show’s description states that Monster “exposes these unconscionable crimes, centred around the underserved victims and their communities impacted by the systemic racism and institutional failures of the police that allowed one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade.” But despite the efforts, many critics and viewers were not too happy with Ryan’s portrayal of the victims.
Ryan Murphy on “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” backlash: “We reached out to around 20 of the victims’ families and friends and not a single person responded to us.” pic.twitter.com/IfgiUWh2pO
— The AHS Zone (@ahszone) October 28, 2022
According to the Hollywood ReporterMurphy addressed the issue at a Directors Guild of America meeting on Thursday. He said, “Over the course of the three, three and a half years when we were really writing it, working on it — we reached out to 20, around 20, of the victims’ families and friends trying to get input, trying to talk to people. And not a single person responded to us in that process.”
His statement is contrary to what victims’ families stated within weeks of the show’s release. Rita Isbell (sister to Errol Lindsey) was murdered in 1991 by Dahmer. Rita wrote the essay. Insider that the show “bothered” her, writing, “It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy.” She also added in her essay, “I was never contacted about the show. Netflix should have asked us if we would mind sharing our feelings about the show. They didn’t even ask me any questions. They just did it.”
I’m not telling anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge rn, but if you’re actually curious about the victims, my family (the Isbell’s) are pissed about this show. It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what? How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need? https://t.co/CRQjXWAvjx
— eric perry. (@ericthulhu) September 22, 2022
“We’re all one traumatic event away from the worst day of your life reduced to your neighbour’s favourite binge show,” said Eric PerryLindsey’s cousin. “And most importantly, if you’re going to create something that uses real-world people and experiences, you should, at minimum, contact those people out of respect.”
Shirley Hughes, whose son Tony Hughes died in Dahmer’s hands in 1991, also shared similar details. The Guardian, “I don’t see how they can do that. I don’t see how they can use our names and put stuff out like that out there.”
Murphy’s comment, in the In the wake of the backlashTwo things are clear: First, it shouldn’t have been made, and second, its portrayal should be very different.
Entertainment is a powerful influence on weak-minded people. It’s time we all stopped underestimating it and its implications. It is amazing how many people don’t realize the importance of dressing up your child as a Dahmer. pic.twitter.com/p4EssKXDqS
— Mel Smith (@iamMelsmith) October 20, 2022
During his talk, Murphy mentions how ‘obsessed’ he is with the story, and as seen in the first five episodes of the show, Dahmer, played by Evan Peters, is highly romanticized. The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage states succinctly, “Dahmer is undoubtedly fetishised here. We see him naked and covered in sweat. We see him repeatedly masturbating. There is a sequence where Dahmer takes a shop mannequin to bed and gratuitously fondles it while Please Don’t Go by KC and the Sunshine Band plays in the background.”
While the second half of the show focuses on the victims, “this comes after five long hours of deeply queasy surface-level viscera,” as Heritage writes. Heritage’s description of the show is the reason critics around the world are raving about it. These scenes make it seem like Dahmer was a disturbed man from a troubled background, which people can sympathize with. The gory, haunting bits, which shouldn’t be depicted, were so for the nature of the story, and that was enthralling for the viewers, instead of being appalling. Moreover, the show’s craze also shot off many trends, including harassing Dahmer’s father, Lionel, 85, and a TikTok challenge where users wanted to see polaroids of Dahmer’s 17 victims.
Jeffery Dahmer would have no problem dressing up young, blonde, and white women for Halloween.
— Just Peachy (She/Her) (@PeachyInNJ) October 22, 2022
Lionel’s nurse, Jeb, who spoke to The Sun, said that viewers are sending him lusty and vicious messages. “We had a lady stop at the end of the driveway, take off her panties and throw them in the yard,” Lionel’s caretaker, Jeb, 34, told TheSun. “I had to go out there with a pair of tongs to pick up this woman’s granny panties,” added the frustrated aid. “The girl looked like she was in her early twenties and was shouting ‘I love you, Lionel.’” The SunAlso, it was reported that Lionel’s attorney is looking into a potential lawsuit against the production team and possibly Netflix.
These are just a few examples of how poorly the series achieved its objectives. Instead of creating fear in the world about serial killers, especially for younger generations, he is revered and admired by millions of people who don’t know the details. It happened with Andrew Dominik’s Blonde too. He focused too much on an aspect of Marilyn Monroe’s life that the public was already highly controversial. In Dominik’s case, it was his interest in Monroe’s “daddy issues”, while Murphy was keen on knowing how Dahmer’s ability to get away with the murders. Their view steered them towards their creation.
As someone who likes true crime, I understand that there’s a way to do consume it responsibly and respectfully. It did neither. It created a fictional case and caused more harm than good.
— Big Man Matteo (@BobTheJanitor45) October 28, 2022
For argument’s sake, you create something of this nature for the masses, the direction is of utmost importance. In Dahmer’s case, his victims were robbed of their legacy. To a large extent, they were just a photo and a name on the show. The trends show that Dahmer is an icon but his victims are just as iconic. The fact that a TikTok challenge, where the search term “Jeffrey Dahmer victim polaroids” has gained 531.2 million views, tells you so much about how the viewers perceived them.
Heritage, while addressing Dahmer, wrote, “The one good thing a show like this can do is steal the spotlight from the murderer and show who these people were.” If all the episodes focused on the lives of the victims, and a small segment was given to Dahmer’s story, then maybe the trends would have not taken such centre stage. It would also showcase the talents and extraordinary human beings of these men to the world, which is what Dahmer did.
Ppl can claim that they didn’t romanticize Jeffrey Dahmer on that netflix series, but they chose Evan Peters because of that reason. I can’t believe you’re not proving it wasn’t for the weird yt females who are turned onto serial killers. Yes, he is a great actor, but that was because he was sick.
— Throatgoat215(He/they) My race is Jai adjacent (@tyrant7654321) October 23, 2022
Let those who have died be at peace is one of the most important points. Dahmer, who was 34 years old at the time, was sentenced to prison in 1992. He was then beaten to death two years later by another inmate. These stories are not only a way to gain money, but also help those who have been affected, including their families. Lionel’s experience was both unfortunate and humiliating. This should not have happened. Imagine Lionel waking up to see random men and women throwing abuse at him. It can be quite distressing. While one can’t compare how much the victim suffers, we can’t even overlook the perpetrator’s family and the harassment they face. There are plenty of ways to make stories about serial killers, and we can only tap into them if we look past controversial ‘real-life’ events.
