Renowned TV personality asserts that the notorious convicted murderers deserve release from incarceration

Renowned actress Rosie O’Donnell has recently disclosed an unexpected connection with incarcerated murderer Lyle Menéndez, shedding light on her belief in his innocence and advocating for the immediate release of both Lyle and his brother Erik Menéndez from prison.

In 1993, four years after the tragic slaying of José and Mary Louise Menéndez, Lyle and Erik were convicted of their parents’ murder. Throughout the case, the brothers never contested their involvement in the killings. However, their defense attorneys maintained that the act was a response to years of harrowing sexual abuse inflicted upon them, predominantly by their father, who held a position as an RCA Records executive.

On the popular social media platform TikTok, Rosie O’Donnell candidly shared her longstanding conviction that the Menéndez brothers were innocent, recounting a personal encounter from 1996 when Lyle sent her a letter.

“The contents of the letter essentially conveyed, ‘I know you understand, and I hope we can find common ground.’ And he was right. I did comprehend their innocence. I knew they were victims of incest,” revealed the former star of “A League Of Their Own.” “Lyle sensed that I held this understanding. I refrained from replying at the time due to my fear and reluctance to confront the matter. It was the year 1996.”

She further reflected on the prevailing cultural attitudes of that era, stating, “Back then, society wasn’t prepared to acknowledge that young boys could also fall prey to sexual assault, sometimes perpetrated by their own fathers. As a collective, we often derided their experiences.”

During the trial proceedings, a prevailing notion emerged that the Menéndez Brothers had perpetrated the murder with the intention of acquiring their parents’ wealth. Disputing this perspective, Rosie O’Donnell emphasized the brothers’ tumultuous history, remarking that Lyle and Erik, aged 18 and 21 respectively during the 1993 trial, were “individuals who had endured molestation from a tender age, and were finally fighting back against their abusers. Yet, people merely saw them as driven by monetary gain. They already possessed wealth. It was never about the money.”

Initially, the brothers faced separate trials, both of which resulted in mistrials due to deadlocked juries. Subsequently, they were jointly tried, leading to convictions on two counts of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Consequently, the presiding judge sentenced them to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Following her viewing of the documentary “Menéndez & Menudo: Boys Betrayed,” which featured former boy band member Roy Rosselló alleging that he too had suffered molestation by José Menéndez, Rosie O’Donnell forged a connection with Lyle.

“So, we believe them now because of Roy from Menudo? Do we now believe them due to the letter Erik sent his cousin eight months prior to the murder?” she pondered. “The time has come. I wholeheartedly believe them.”

“In the face of unspeakable parental abuse, they committed an unthinkable act—an act that had been perpetuated against them day after day,” O’Donnell asserted. “They have paid the price for their actions. It is time to liberate the Menéndez brothers.”

Rosie O’Donnell’s resolute advocacy has added a new dimension to the enduring Menéndez case, raising crucial questions about the nature of abuse, the complexities of family dynamics, and the boundaries of justice. As public awareness grows, the fate of Lyle and Erik Menéndez remains in the hands of a society grappling with the ramifications of their tragic past and seeking a path toward healing and understanding.