Accuracy of Tony Hughes' story in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is debated, particularly regarding the portrayal of his relationship with Dahmer. Shirley Hughes, Tony's mother, disapproves of how the show depicted her son's kidnapping and murder, and criticizes the profiting off of their family tragedy. Shirley Hughes' testimony and powerful poem at Dahmer's trial had an impact on his sentencing, leading to 16 life sentences. However, the show made changes to Tony's story for narrative purposes.

Tony Hughes, Jeffrey Dahmer's 12th victim, is depicted in Netflixs Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, but whether this portrayal is accurate has been hotly debated. Hughes was a 31-year-old deaf Black man living in Madison at the time of his kidnapping and murder. Like the majority of Dahmers victims, Tony Hughes was tricked into coming to Dahmers apartment after meeting him at a gay bar where Hughes was visiting family in Milwaukee at the time.