Netflix has faced strong criticism for its marketing campaign for the fourth season of its true crime series Monster, which has been accused of glamorizing real-life criminals. The campaign, launched on September 16, 2026, featured a visual teaser on X (formerly Twitter) that compared historical figures like Lizzie Borden, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and Ed Gein to unlockable characters in a fictional downloadable content (DLC) pack for a fighting game. The visuals and taglines were described as stylized, drawing from the aesthetics of superhero films and geek culture. The season, titled Monster, will debut on Netflix on September 17, 2026, and consists of eight episodes. The campaign immediately sparked outrage, with many users on X expressing disgust, calling it an example of "fetishizing real monsters." Critics argue that by portraying real-life criminals as if they were villains from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Netflix has alienated part of its audience, particularly those who view such figures as perpetrators of serious crimes rather than entertainment characters. The controversy has raised ethical questions about how true crime is presented to the public. Some viewers accuse Netflix of turning traumatic real-life events into collectible items for teenagers, potentially giving notoriety to killers that they originally sought. Others suggest that such aestheticized packaging might unintentionally glorify these individuals, possibly influencing future behavior. The campaign has also drawn comparisons to Mindhunter, a previous Netflix series that was praised for its subtlety and psychological depth. Fans of Mindhunter expressed disappointment, feeling that the new campaign prioritizes sensationalism over thoughtful storytelling. Critics have called the approach a reflection of Ryan Murphy's production style, which they argue focuses more on generating algorithm-friendly content than on meaningful analysis of crime and its societal impact. By transforming dark historical events into a pop-culture product, Netflix is accused of using shock value to drive engagement and clicks.