Alex Murdaugh is pushing back at the new Hulu dramatization, saying the Murdaugh: Death in the Family misrepresents family ties and key events. The former South Carolina attorney, convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife and son, says recent scenes and character beats stray from real life.
His defense team says the series presents “misleading portrayals” of Maggie and Paul and that producers reportedly never asked the family or lawyers to fact-check depictions. According to Fox News, the statement urges viewers to treat the drama with caution and notes the team’s concern over accuracy claims tied to off-screen sources. The production has not publicly addressed those specific objections.
Alex Murdaugh disputes Hulu portrayal
The statement frames the objection in simple terms. It argues the series leans on secondhand accounts and paints family dynamics in a way that, in his view, is wrong. It also says no outreach came to his attorneys or to Buster Murdaugh before release. According to Fox News, the team calls the show “sensationalized” and says the depiction of relationships is particularly troubling.
The pushback arrives while appeals continue on the murder case and while long sentences for financial crimes stand. That court picture sits in the background of the criticism. The timing also places the dispute in the middle of the show’s rollout window, when interest and debate are at a peak.
Alex Murdaugh and the Hulu show Murdaugh: Death in the Family
Hulu’s eight-episode miniseries began streaming with three episodes on October 15, followed by weekly chapters through November 19. USA Today reported that Jason Clarke plays Alex Murdaugh and Patricia Arquette plays Maggie, with Brittany Snow portraying journalist Mandy Matney.
The series is inspired by the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, which tracked the Lowcountry saga from its early days. Episodes run about an hour and are available on Hulu, and on Disney+ for bundle users.
The show opens with the 2019 boat crash and then moves through lawsuits, a widening money trail, and the June 2021 shootings at the Moselle property. It blends courtroom material with flashbacks to the family’s public life, including scenes set around law offices, hunting grounds, and local hangouts. The structure invites comparison to real timelines that have been covered by major outlets and by the podcast that helped bring the story to national attention.
Also read: 5 chilling details about the Alex Murdaugh case in Murdaugh: Death in the Family
Alex Murdaugh case background
The case history is long, so basic signposts help. In 2015, nursing student Stephen Smith was found dead in the road; the death was first labeled a hit-and-run, then later drew fresh attention as investigators re-examined prior leads.
In 2018, longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield died after an incident at a Murdaugh home; Alex Murdaugh later admitted lying about dogs causing her fall as part of an insurance scheme, prosecutors said.
In 2019, a boat crash at about 2:20 am killed Mallory Beach; Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence and pleaded not guilty before his death. Per the Los Angeles Times, these threads formed the backdrop as pressure on the family rose.
On June 7, 2021, Maggie and Paul were shot at the Moselle kennels. Two guns were used. Around 10 pm, a 911 call brought law enforcement to the scene. The killings set off a sweeping probe that soon reached into Alex Murdaugh’s finances. In early 2023, a Colleton County jury found him guilty of the murders after a televised trial that featured phone data, car telemetry, and a kennel video that placed his voice at the scene minutes before the shootings, prosecutors said. He received two life terms.
Additional state and federal sentences for financial crimes followed, to be served concurrently. Appeals on the murder case remain active, and filings from both sides cite contested points about jury conduct and trial rulings. The state has argued the verdict rested on strong evidence, while the defense alleges errors and improper influence.
The media picture grew alongside the court record. A wave of documentaries, specials, and podcasts preceded Hulu’s scripted take. That context shapes viewer expectations. Disputes over dramatization are common when real cases meet TV. Here, the subject at the center is challenging scenes as inaccurate while the series retells a widely covered timeline.
Also read: Murdaugh family case in Murdaugh: Death in the Family: A complete timeline of events
Edited by Preethika Vijayakumar
