Rosie O’Donnell has recently shared details about her unexpected friendship with Lyle Menendez, a man convicted of murder. In a new interview, the 63-year-old actress explained how this friendship began after she voiced her support for the Menendez brothers on “Larry King Live” back in 1996. During that appearance, she suggested that their actions were a form of self-defense.
Lyle and his brother, Erik Menendez, were found guilty of killing their parents in 1989. They claimed that their father had sexually abused them, which played a significant part in their defense during the trial.
In her interview with The New York Times, O’Donnell revealed that Menendez had written her a letter thanking her for her support. He mentioned that he felt she understood the truth behind his defense. O’Donnell has gone through her own traumatic experiences, sharing later that she was sexually abused by her father as a child.
Despite not replying to Menendez’s letter at that time, she continued to speak out in favor of him and his brother. After watching a documentary about their case in 2022, she discussed it on TikTok. Menendez’s then-wife reached out to O’Donnell, offering to connect them.
Their first conversation lasted several hours, and afterward, Menendez calling her from prison became a regular occurrence. O’Donnell described feeling safe enough to open up to him, sharing her thoughts on various matters.
She maintained contact with Menendez and even visited him in prison. The brothers were sentenced to life without parole in 1996 after a retrial. They have consistently maintained that they acted out of fear for their lives.
Recently, the Los Angeles County District Attorney stated he would not recommend reducing their sentences, citing their lack of accountability for their past actions.
In other news, O’Donnell has moved to Ireland with her 12-year-old child, Clay, who has autism. She confirmed this change in her life last month, mentioning that political events in the U.S., particularly Donald Trump’s presidency, impacted her decision to relocate. O’Donnell expressed contentment with her new life in Ireland, despite missing her friends and family back home, stating that she hopes to return when everyone in the U.S. has equal rights.
