ANAHEIM, Calif. — “Monsters” star Cooper Koch, who portrayed Erik Menendez in the hit Netflix series, shared a message from Menendez ahead of the 2025 Emmy Awards ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Koch, whose portrayal nabbed him an Emmy Award nomination, shared on the red carpet a message he received from Erik Menendez. “For so many, what you brilliantly portrayed is their reality. The goal is not accolades. The goal is to bring awareness. We are stronger together. Love you, brother,” Koch read the message aloud from his phone.

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” created a ton of buzz, so much so that it prompted the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to recommend resentencing for the Menendez brothers shortly after the series’ release last fall. In May, a judge resentenced both Erik and Lyle Menendez, changing their sentence from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, which made the brothers immediately eligible for parole.

Last month, a California Parole Board denied the brothers’ parole. Koch did not immediately comment on the board’s decision, but he broke his silence on the red carpet.

“It was a year ago that I met them, but we talk every once in a while. Right now, unfortunately, they did not receive parole at their parole hearings, which is very sad,” Koch told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s very common for it to not go your way the first time, and they will have another chance sooner rather than later.”

As for Koch, he said he’s “continuing to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best and send them lots of love, especially also their family and all their supporters too.”

©2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit ocregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.