Actress Bea Alonzo stirred controversy after sharing Halloween photos dressed as Lyle Menendez, one of the two brothers convicted of killing their parents in a high-profile case. Alonzo initially posted the costume on her Instagram on November 1, captioning the image, “Call me Lyle,” with the hashtag “Halloween 2024.” However, she later removed the post.
Lyle Menendez, along with his brother Erik, recently returned to public attention through a Netflix documentary that highlighted their claims of enduring abuse from their father. Some viewers empathized with the brothers, seeing them as victims of alleged family trauma rather than solely as perpetrators.
Following Alonzo’s post, several netizens expressed disappointment in the comments on her other Instagram photos, criticizing her choice to dress as someone associated with a real-life tragedy. Comments called the costume “disgusting” and insensitive to the seriousness of the Menendez case.
A Facebook page supporting Lyle Menendez also condemned such portrayals, stating, “People dressing up as rape survivors for Halloween is utterly disgusting… The pain is always there. And to mock the pain of rape is despicable.” The statement further stressed, “Lyle and Erik are not characters. They are real people who have been suffering trauma since the day they were born.”
Alonzo has yet to respond publicly regarding the backlash.
