Truth behind Menendez brothers' bizarre song choice at parents' funeral that left viewers baffled

Of the most hotly-debated scenes that make up the nine-part Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, there's one that takes place just minutes into the first episode of the Netflix show, which sees the brothers playing a bizarre song at their parents' funeral.

And - like many other aspects of the controversial true-crime recreation - the moment has sparked questions surrounding the accuracy of the plot, with many disbelieving that the hit 80s number would have featured at the real-life wake.

Who are Lyle and Erik Menendez?

For those out of the loop with Netflix's latest addition to Ryan Murphy's eerie Monsters franchise, the drama tells the story of the real-life brothers who, back in 1989, murdered their parents José and Kitty Menendez after what they claim was years of sexual, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their father.

Lyle and Erik shot the duo at close range with a shotgun at their Los Angeles home, yet initially managed to pin the crime on the mafia.

It wasn't until a tape-recorded confession that Erik subsequently made to his therapist was seized by police that the pair ended up behind bars.

The series - which has massively divided viewers - recounts the murders, as well as the televised court case that followed which became a national sensation.

Why has the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story divided viewers?

As we say, several aspects of the show have fallen under the scrutiny of fans watching from home.

The real brothers were sentenced in 1994 (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)

These concerns were further exasperated when the real life Erik Menendez - who, with his brother, was sentenced to life in prison without parole back in 1994 - released a statement boycotting the show over alleged 'inaccuracies'.

So much so, that many viewers have since taken in upon themselves to research the real crime and court case, hoping to determine fact from fiction.

And among the show's most talked-about moments is one which sees Lyle Menendez - played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez - introducing a song for their parents' funeral.

The song? Milli Vanilli's hit, 'Girl I'm Gonna Miss You'.

In fact, the legendary band features quite heavily in the series, with their other single 'Blame It On The Rain' also having its moment.

Viewers at the memorial look visibly confused by the request - as, apparently, were those watching from their sofas.

Taking to social media this week, one joked: "Hey, Siri, did the Menendez brothers really play Milli Vanilli at their parents’ funeral?"

Another added: "This Menendez story with the constant Milli Vanilli references has cracking up… did he really play that at the funeral of his mom that he killed ??"

The Netflix series has come under mass scrutiny (Netflix)

The truth about the song at the Menendez funeral

It turns out, the choice of song which features at the on-screen funeral wasn't an artistic choice at all.

That's right - according to author Robert Rand, the writer of The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Untold Story of the Menendez Family and the Killings that Stunned the Nation, the brothers chose the song to memorialise their father and mother - the latter of whom they claimed was aware of the abuse.

The show's director Ryan Murphy also addressed the funeral number recently, telling press: "The choice of Lyle playing a Milli Vanilli song at his parents’ memorial – you really can’t make up."