Why is Charlie Hunnam’s Ed Gein role under fire? Monster controversy explained

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Ryan Murphy’s Monster series often sparks debate, and this time the discussion centers on the depiction of Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein. Critics have raised concerns about this portrayal before the show’s release on Netflix.

The true crime series began in 2022 with Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and it attracted both a large audience and significant criticism. The families of the victims expressed their concerns, stating they hadn’t been asked for their consent, and viewers discussed whether the series romanticized serial killers. What was certain was that it sparked a lot of conversation.

Following that, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story also sparked a lot of disagreement. Erik Menendez himself publicly criticized the show, calling it a “dishonest portrayal.” Others were upset by scenes that hinted at incest between the brothers, claiming these scenes were made up and had no basis in truth.

Despite this, the show received incredibly high viewership. Dahmer is now the fourth most popular English-language series ever on Netflix, and the episode about the Menendez brothers garnered 12.7 million views within just four days. Therefore, a third season is planned, focusing on another notorious and disturbing American criminal.

Why is Charlie Hunnam’s Ed Gein role under fire?

The series Monster: The Ed Gein Story is facing criticism, with some viewers claiming that Ryan Murphy has inappropriately sexualized the real-life killer, Ed Gein. The recently released trailer features lead actor Charlie Hunnam in scenes with minimal clothing, and also depicts him gently touching a corpse.

Okay, so if you don’t know the story, Ed Gein was seriously disturbing. He was a grave robber, and things just got way worse from there – he was also a necrophiliac and a murderer. Back in the 1950s in Wisconsin, he committed these gruesome crimes where he’d dig up bodies and actually make things – keepsakes – out of human remains. It’s pretty horrific when you think about it.

As a horror game fan, it’s seriously creepy to learn that the deeds of a real person ended up influencing some of the most terrifying villains ever created. I mean, think about it – characters like Norman Bates from Psycho, Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and even Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs – they all have roots in the actual crimes committed by this guy. It’s wild how real-life horrors can inspire fictional ones, and honestly, it makes those games and movies even more disturbing when you know the backstory.

Many people are hesitant to watch the Netflix series due to the unsettling background of Gein, and the trailer has faced online backlash. One Reddit user questioned, “Can we stop glamorizing serial killers?”

Charlie Hunnam says he had nightmares before starting working on “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”

— Variety (@Variety) September 14, 2025

Someone else commented, “It doesn’t even take 30 seconds before we see Ed portrayed as a muscular rock star.” They then added, “Fk Ryan Murphy for attempting to glamorize truly awful people.”

One person commented, “Ryan Murphy consistently attempts to glamorize truly awful people. Ed Gein was living in incredibly squalid conditions – essentially surrounded by his own waste – when authorities discovered him.” Another viewer added, “Dahmer was already problematic, but this takes insensitivity to an entirely new degree of bad taste.”

Some people disagreed with a recent Variety interview where Hunnam described Gein as “one of the more gentle monsters”.

The Sons of Anarchy star shared that he briefly wondered if he’d made a terrible error in judgment when he began researching and discovering just how awful some of the man’s actions were. He admitted to questioning his decision for a moment.

We aim to portray a complete picture of who he was, showing both the difficult and more sensitive sides. While acknowledging the gruesome aspects, we also try to reveal his humanity – a glimpse of vulnerability and perhaps even a little tenderness.

“He’s one of the more gentle monsters. Monstrous no doubt, but he has his gentle side to him.”

Someone responded to these statements by saying, “This really shows how things are today. It’s not surprising he was a ruthless killer who collected keepsakes from his victims. However, people also point out he was very affectionate towards his dog, and his mother clearly loved him. Charlie Hunnam, a fking moron.”

Another agreed, “So disappointed in Charlie!”

Why some Netflix viewers are defending Monster

However, many Netflix viewers are excited to see Charlie Hunnam’s performance and how Monster approaches the story of Ed Gein, noting the series’ history of initiating difficult yet meaningful discussions.

Despite the criticism it receives, the Netflix show continues to attract millions of viewers, as Hunnam discussed on the latest episode of Today (September 30). Following a preview clip, Hunnam talked about the impact Gein had on culture and the horror movie characters he influenced.

I was really intrigued when he talked about that moment in the Monster Season 3 trailer – you know, when Gein looks right at the camera and says, “You’re the one who can’t look away.” Hunnam explained that really gets to the heart of what the show is about. He said, “That’s one of the primary questions we ask in the show: who is the monster?” It’s a really interesting thought, and makes you question everything!

Whether it’s the boy who committed awful acts, a product of abuse, loneliness, and a lack of mental health care, or the filmmakers who drew from his story, exaggerating it for profit and potentially contributing to a more troubled national mindset-which one bears the greater responsibility?

Before Ed Gein entered the picture, movie monsters were typically creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein, and werewolves. Psycho marked a turning point, shifting the focus to humans *as* the monsters, and this change happened directly because of the impact Ed Gein had on filmmaking.

Similar to many viewers who disliked the show’s initial concept and preview, it’s expected to be a thoughtful examination of Gein’s disturbing history and how we connect with scary stories and real-life crime.

Someone pointed out that they love the line, ‘You’re the one who can’t look away’ while the actor looks directly at the camera, which they see as Netflix acknowledging that viewers will continue watching even if they find the content disturbing.

I was wondering to myself: What’s the point of making elaborate, high-quality films about these creatures? Then someone responded: it’s because you can’t help but watch,” another person observed.

Another person commented, “Charlie is expected to give an amazing performance as Ed Gein. He’s a really talented actor in all of his roles.”

Many people have spoken highly of Addison Rae, who plays Evelyn in the Netflix series. Evelyn is a babysitter who disappeared, and investigators suspected Ed Gein of kidnapping her, though this was never confirmed.

“It wasn’t a real situation, but it was still hard to watch. The actress was so believable that I genuinely believed she was in danger,” one person commented.

Some people also take issue with the points raised. One Redditor commented, “Why does he look like a rock star? He’s definitely in good shape, but it’s not extremely obvious.”

Someone else added, “It’s funny how people are acting all shocked that Netflix is showing murderers in a glamorous light. This guy has actually inspired some incredibly famous and influential horror films like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs.”

If you’d like to decide for yourself, Monster: The Ed Gein Story will be available on Netflix starting October 3, 2025. While you wait, you can learn about Monster Season 4 and see what else is coming in 2025 with our complete TV show release calendar.

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2025-09-30 18:52