You can read Anthony's article here
For nearly sixty-years, The "Manson Family" murders have been more than just a historical tragedy; they have been transformed into a self-sustaining "Manson Industrial Complex", a genre of media that prioritizes entertainment over visceral reality of human loss. Recently the release of the Disney+ and Hulu documentary My Grandfather Charles Manson, this exploitation reached a new, disturbing low. Anthony DiMaria-nephew of Jay Sebring and a tireless advocate for victims, has voiced a necessary and scathing critique of this production. Anthony is correct: these narratives are "parasitical cash grabs" that treat the brutal slaughter of human beings as "cotton candy entertainment for the masses". Having been approached to work on this very documentary, I can confirm that his assessment of the industry's cynical motivations is entirely accurate.
When I was asked to participate in the production of My Grandfather Charles Manson, the underlying logic was made quite clear. I was told the more people involved-specifically the surviving members of the victims family members-the larger the production budget would be. This confirms Anthony's point that victims are not viewed as human beings with "true human dimension," but as "insignificant props" used to increase the market value of a production. The grief of a family is quite literally a line item in a production budget, while corporations like Disney+ and Smuggler Entertainment promote the "dark side" of Charles Manson as a curiosity to be discovered, they conveniently overlook the fact the victims were real people-flesh and blood- whom continue to be used as "insignificant props" in the peddling of their own deaths.
The documentary tries to frame, as I said before,generational trauma, through the lens of Sophia Arguelles, whom discovered Charles Manson was her grandfather via a DNA test. But as Anthony DiMaria argues, the real trauma belongs to those that were butchered and their families. Anthony also argues that we must not let a "good story" overshadow the unflinching facts of what occurred to the victims.
To pivot the conversation towards the emotional journey of a killers descendant while "the victims remain silent in their graves" is not just insensitive; it's a moral failure. Anthony highlights the evidence from Smuggler Entertainment, the production company, gaining access to Bruce Davis's parole hearing under the guise of "media attendance" only to have Sophia herself-the subject of the film-observe the hearing and "listen" to the victim's impact statements.
Deb covered this in 2024 here
Anthony also point's out that Danny and Sophia attended Family Jams Day 6, where Anthony says is a day for Manson "apologists and groupies" to celebrate the anniversary of the killings with beer and live music. As Anthony asks, if the filmmakers were truly interested in the "human dimension" of this tragedy, why isn't the footage of them smiling and laughing with "Manson fans" included in the film? *NOTE* I personally do not believe Family Jams to be a day to celebrate the anniversary of the murders BUT I have also never attended Family Jams because it's not my "bag". This is merely my opinion and it in no way is discrediting Anthony's opinion. Anthony has every right to feel the way he does.
Anthony also says Shame is the only appropriate response to those who continue to laugh all the way to the bank at the expense of the haunted and the grieving, and that we must always remember the names the "profiteers" often treat as secondary: Gary Hinman, Sharon Tate, her unborn child, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Leno Labianca, Rosemary Labianca, Donald Shea, Steven Parent.