Brian Laundrie’s Parents Fire Back at Netflix’s Gabby Petito Documentary Calling It “One-Sided”
The Netflix docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito is dominating the streaming charts but not everyone is happy about it. Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, have slammed the three-part series as “one-sided,” accusing the filmmakers of distorting facts and pushing a specific narrative.
In a statement provided to PEOPLE by their attorney, Steven Bertolino, the Laundries made it clear they weren’t impressed: “The documentary was what we expected. One perspective depicted as the ‘truth’ as seen through their lens. Similar to Republicans and Democrats fighting it out lately. Hard to see through the lens of the other with all the noise and distrust.”
They also took issue with the accuracy of the series, claiming, “The documentary contained many inaccuracies, incorrect juxtapositions of timelines, and misstatements and omissions of fact—perhaps deliberate to capture their ‘truth,’ perhaps due to simple error.”
Despite their criticism of the production, the Laundries did acknowledge the tragedy: “We all know Brian took Gabby’s life and Brian then took his own as well. Let the parents of both Gabby and Brian mourn and remember them in peace.”
Netflix Docuseries Draws Massive Viewership
While the Laundries may not be happy with how the series portrayed them, audiences around the world couldn’t look away. American Murder: Gabby Petito pulled in a staggering 31.3 million views from February 17 to February 23, catapulting it to the number 1 spot on Netflix’s global English-language line-up.
One key detail the Laundries seem to be overlooking is the fact that they refused to participate in the documentary. The end credits of the series clearly state that they declined to be interviewed. In a pre-release interview with Today, director Julia Willoughby Nason confirmed, “[The Laundries] didn’t want to participate, and we respect that.”
Tragic Story That Gripped the Nation
Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old aspiring travel influencer, was on a cross-country trip with her fiancé Brian Laundrie when she was reported missing on September 11, 2021. The case quickly became a national obsession, with social media users and amateur detectives combing through Gabby’s posts and police bodycam footage in search of clues.
Just over a week later, her body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. An autopsy confirmed she died from “blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation.”
Meanwhile, Brian went missing shortly after returning home to Florida without Gabby. His skeletal remains were eventually found in Florida’s Carlton Reserve, along with a backpack, a notebook, and other personal belongings. The FBI later revealed that he had left a written confession admitting responsibility for Gabby’s murder.
The Laundries’ statement has only added fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, American Murder: Gabby Petito continues to dominate the streaming world, sparking conversations as viewers dissect every detail that captivated and horrified the nation.
