Rosie O’Donnell is trying again at life now, after which.
The comic, 63, lately detailed having a friendship with Lyle Menendez, 57, who alongside together with his brother Erik Menendez, 54, was convicted of the 1989 murders of their dad and mom Kitty and Jose Menendez.
“He started calling me on a regular basis from the tablet phone thing they have,” O’Donnell advised The New York Occasions on Saturday. “He would tell me about his life, what he’s been doing in prison and, for the first time in my life, I felt safe enough to trust and be vulnerable and love a straight man.”
The brothers had been sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole in 1994. Whereas discussing the crime on “Larry King Live” in 1996, the previous speak present host mentioned she believed Lyle and Erik’s claims of childhood abuse and molestation by their father and that killing their dad and mom was an act of self-defense.
After her look, O’Donnell acquired a letter from Lyle that “thanked her for her support and stated his belief that she ‘knew’ from a personal place that what he was saying was true.”
The actress herself had expertise with the topic, alleging to the outlet that “she and her siblings had been molested by their father.”
“At that point, I had not ventured anywhere near this in my family or in my therapy,” O’Donnell continued earlier than admitting she didn’t write Lyle again at first.
It wasn’t till 2022 when the siblings’ case gained a brand new life on TikTok following a documentary, that the comedian reached again out. O’Donnell defined that she heard from the prisoner’s spouse, Rebecca Sneed, who contacted her to “see if she was interested in speaking with him.”
Since then, the pen buddies have had constant communication with their first cellphone dialog lasting greater than three hours.
O’Donnell admitted that initially, their contact sparked concern amongst her pals. She “shrugged” at the truth that “he’s a murderer” and went ahead with visiting Lyle in jail.
The “America” alum advised The Occasions she “spent two weeks commuting daily to the prison.”
Lyle additionally talked O’Donnell into getting a canine for her son Clay by a jail program he was concerned in. The inmates engaged on the mission practice canines to go dwelling with disabled veterans and autistic kids.
Clay was paired with a Labrador combine that was skilled by a person who was in jail for armed theft.
“I noticed the difference in Clay immediately,” O’Donnell mentioned of her son’s bond with the pup. “I was shocked to find out that tall the stories I heard from other mothers of autistic children were true.”
The celeb determined to deliver consciousness to this program, creating the upcoming documentary “Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Autism,” which hits Hulu on April 22.
O’Donnell’s movie comes on the heels of her transferring to Eire following Donald Trump’s presidential win.
“It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And I’m very grateful,” she mentioned in a March TikTok video.
O’Donnell’s advised viewers she is “in the process” of getting her Irish citizenship since her grandparents are from the nation.
“I was never someone who thought I would move to another country, that’s what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are,” she defined.
“You know, I’m happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back.”
Lyle and Erik, in the meantime, are nonetheless behind bars within the US however at the moment are searching for a resentencing.
After 30 years behind bars, the courtroom is scheduled to decide on resentencing after hearings on April 17 and 18.
Lots of Lyle and Erik’s family confirmed as much as the courthouse Friday to indicate their help throughout courtroom and ask for his or her freedom.
“Eric and Lyle have taken full responsibility for what they did, and for decades now they continuously shown their insight, through their ashes, not just their words,” their cousin Anamaria Baralt advised reporters following the listening to.
Through the listening to, prosecutors claimed that the brothers have by no means admitted to their “lies” and have proven completely no regret for his or her actions.
Baralt mentioned these claims are “patently false.”
I don’t know why [prosecutors] hold repeating that. That’s simply not true,” she added.
