Nicholas Chavez, the star of Netflix “Monsters: The Menendez Murders,” has found himself in the spotlight of TikTok and Instagram fame after a fan edit was made of him on TikTok. However, the love has quickly turned to hate after controversial interview clips surfaced.
Chavez gained a lot of attention after his portrayal of Lyle Menendez in the series “Monsters.” The series is about the 1990s case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in their California home. Chavez’s performance as Lyle gained him attention, which led to him trending on social media. His acting skills were praised, and he seemed to be the next big thing.
Controversy Surrounding Chavez
However, this spotlight quickly began to be questioned after interviews with Chavez started circulating online. Chavez is seen making comments that viewers claim are insensitive and rude remarks regarding the Menendez brothers’ trauma.
In one interview, Chavez comes off as downplaying what they went through, and while he doesn’t outright say what his opinion on the issue is, it is evident that he truly views them as “monsters.” His comments came off as dismissive, meanwhile, this case has been debated for years. The world has seemed to open up its hearts to the Menendez brothers and is on their side, so Chavez not supporting them has upset viewers.
On top of this, viewers have gone back to view his portrayal of Lyle Menendez and think he is over the top and arrogant, which is not how Lyle Menendez truly was as an adolescent. A Twitter user wrote, “He’s playing the role of a man who may have been deeply affected by trauma, yet in real life, he seems to dismiss that very possibility.”
To add to the controversy around the topic, a photo is circulating of Chavez posing with two people who dressed up as the Menendez brothers for Halloween. While many people do dress up as true crime cases for the holiday, this one came off as insensitive considering the nature of the case right now.
The Menendez case has been reopened, and there is a possibility for them to be freed. So dressing up as them for Halloween has upset people and is coming off as trying to be humorous over a very sensitive subject. Viewers claim he is mocking the brothers’ tragic past and is adding to the hate surrounding him.
Chavez Remains Silent
As the backlash continues, Chavez has still yet to comment on this subject. Typically, when people begin getting canceled on social media, fans expect the star to come out with a public apology, and then people tend to move on. However, his silence has kept viewers angry and his support is diminishing. As of now, it is unclear whether Chavez will comment on the situation.
Chavez’s admiration has quickly turned to disapproval. His fast fame from the show Monsters may have taken a toll on future career opportunities. However, viewers will just have to wait to see what his future career in the entertainment business will be. Time will only tell.
What are your thoughts on Nicholas Chavez? Let us know @VALLEYmag on X!
