Lyle and Eric Menendez are more than friends with comedian Rosie O'Donnell. They have a “sister”.
O'Donnell spoke out about how he has defended his brother, who is currently in a San Diego prison serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder of his parents Jose and Mary “Kitty” Menendez. are.
Documentaries and TV series have been made about them, and recently their story has been brought back to the spotlight thanks to Netflix's Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, but the brothers denounce this. .
Lyle Menendez, who shot and killed his parents with his brother, plans life after prison amid new plea
Eric Menendez and his brother Lyle are pictured with attorney Leslie Abramson in 1991. (Mike Nelson/AFP via Getty Images)
O'Donnell says their history is complicated.
“I went out to lunch with Barbara Walters and her publicist, Cindy Berger, and I said, 'Barbara, you're not going to believe this, but guess who wrote me the letter? Please, Lyle Menendez.'' O'Donnell said. told Variety. “Barbara said, 'Don't ignore him, he's a murderer. He's very cunning.'”
Walters famously interviewed both Lyle and Eric in prison in 1996.
O'Donnell apparently did not respond and only entered the brothers' lives two years ago after watching a documentary containing new evidence corroborating Lyle and Eric's story. They were sexually abused by their father. O'Donnell spoke out on social media and a relationship was born from there.
“Lyle's wife called me and asked me if I wanted to talk to her, even though I didn't know he had a wife,” O'Donnell explained. “He called me on Mother's Day last year.''
Rosie O'Donnell said years before she began a relationship with the Menendez brothers, she ignored letters from Lyle because of warnings from Barbara Walters. (Olivia Wong/Getty Images)
Like what you’re reading? Click here for more entertainment news
Since then, O'Donnell and the brothers have developed a friendship of sorts, with O'Donnell describing the former talk show host as almost like family.
“In a way, I feel like a big sister. Lyle is one of the most admired inmates in California prisons. You can't ignore that. If he's like a psycho yelling at everyone, Would he do that if he were a man and a madman?''If he was running a hospice for dying prisoners, he would eventually move from San Francisco to live with his brother because he had not committed a single violation for 10 years. Were you able to do that? It's a pretty damning testimony that after 35 years, both of them have become extraordinary prisoners. ”
She met Lyle for the first time last year and greeted brother Menendez with a hug. “Then Eric came up to me and hugged me and whispered in my ear, 'Thank you for loving my brother.' That was very, very touching to me.”
Lyle Menendez is photographed in court. (Kim Krish/Sigma via Getty Images)
“I feel like she's my older sister in a way.”
O'Donnell said he and Lyle “talk a lot.”
“I told them that no matter what fame fades, I'm going to do everything I can to shine a light on their stories. 'This isn't the '90s, Lyle. I'm no longer I’m not going to be on that show,’” referring to her talk show. Ended in 2002.
“The Rosie O'Donnell Show” aired from 1996 to 2002. (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
“If you feel strongly about something and want to contribute to society, I think it's okay to use your voice. Because children who are abused at home don't have a voice. It's up to the adults who were once those children to speak for them.”
The brothers could face outrage or even be released, given a review of new evidence announced last week by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
Ms O'Donnell told the media that she was aware of the landmark decision.
Both Menendez brothers are serving their sentences at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. These mugshots were taken in 2023 for Lyle (left) and Eric. (California Department of Corrections)
“I told them I would do everything I could with my fading fame to shine a light on their stories. 'This isn't the '90s, Lyle. I'm no longer on that show. I'm not coming out.''
“As soon as I got the news, I texted them and said, 'This is really happening. Come on, put on a smile. Let's go.'” It's something we've been waiting for a decade, and I think the time has come for us as a society to say, “We made a mistake, and we didn't understand what we understand today.” . “It’s kind of a miracle, but they’re very happy. ”
Click here to sign up for our entertainment newsletter
“They're excited,” she continued. “They're happy. I came here two years ago as a cheerleader, and I told them, 'You guys are getting out of there.'” You didn't have much faith in me, but I believe that mistakes will be righted. They still don't believe it will happen. ”
Eric and Lyle Menendez could be released soon. (Kim Krish/AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
If he is indeed released, Mr. O'Donnell is already making plans with Mr. Lyle.
“I always told Lyle I'd take him to Nobu, because he thinks it's the place to go,” she said of the upscale chain's Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, which is also frequented by celebrities. talked about. “Sometimes I'd talk to him at night, and he'd tell me he went to Nobu for lunch with some friends. I'd say, 'Buddy, when you come out, I'll take you to Nobu.'” The last time we talked, he said, ” “When are you going to Nobu?” I was asked. I said, “It's faster than I expected.'' ”
