{"id":188767,"date":"2025-08-24T06:08:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T06:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/24\/rosie-odonnell-calls-for-menendez-brothers-to-be-freed\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T06:08:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T06:08:15","slug":"rosie-odonnell-calls-for-menendez-brothers-to-be-freed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/24\/rosie-odonnell-calls-for-menendez-brothers-to-be-freed\/","title":{"rendered":"Rosie O’Donnell Calls for Menendez Brothers to Be Freed"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Rosie O\u2019Donnell<\/strong><\/a> called for Lyle<\/strong> and Erik Menendez<\/strong> to be freed from prison following their latest parole denial.<\/p>\n

The former View<\/em> cohost shared a message in support of the convicted murderers via Instagram<\/a> on Saturday, August 23, after the Menendez brothers lost a bid to be paroled for the 1989 killings of their parents Jos\u00e9<\/strong> and Mary Louise \u201cKitty\u201d Menendez<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cFree the Menendez brothers,\u201d O\u2019Donnell, 63, wrote.<\/p>\n

Erik and Lyle were both denied parole<\/a> in separate hearings last week. While they were convicted on two counts of first-degree murder in 1996, they have always maintained that they acted in self-defense because of physical, emotional and sexual abuse from their parents.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Rosie O\u2019Donnell Reveals How Often She Speaks to Lyle Menendez in Prison<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tRosie O\u2019Donnell revealed she frequently speaks to friend Lyle Menendez as he serves a life sentence in prison for the 1989 murders of his parents, Joe and Kitty Menendez. \u201c[We speak] about two or three times a week,\u201d O\u2019Donnell, 63, told Page Six in an interview published on Saturday, April 26. The former talk show [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

O\u2019Donnell bonded with Lyle<\/a> after he wrote her a letter of thanks in the 1990s for defending the siblings during an appearance on Larry King Live<\/em>. The two started speaking on the phone in 2022 when they were connected by Lyle\u2019s wife, Rebecca Sneed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Variety<\/em>, O\u2019Donnell recounted the emotional experience of traveling to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego to meet both brothers in person for the first time in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw Lyle and gave him a hug,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThen Erik came over to me, hugged me, and whispered in my ear, \u2018Thank you for loving my brother.\u2019 It was very, very moving to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Daytime Emmy Award winner grew so close to Lyle<\/a> that she credited him with helping her feel \u201csafe enough to trust and be vulnerable and love a straight man\u201d for the first time in her life.<\/p>\n

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\n Erik Menendez and his brother Lyle Menendez in March 1994.<\/span> Ted Soqui\/Sygma via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, Erik\u2019s daughter, Talia Menendez<\/strong>, previously hit out at the Menendez brothers\u2019 celebrity supporters<\/a> for not reacting more vocally to the parole denial.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are the celebrities that were \u2018advocating\u2019 for them???? It\u2019s been WAY TOO QUIET,\u201d she wrote via Instagram on Thursday, August 23.<\/p>\n

Talia singled out Cooper Koch<\/strong>, who played Erik in the Netflix true-crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story<\/em>, as the only celebrity who\u2019d checked on the family since their legal setback.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only one that I can say has been checking in on my family is Cooper and we absolutely adore him,\u201d she claimed. \u201cTo the ones that went to the prison without any background checks to film their show but are staying quiet now. You despise [sic] me beyond measure. Just say your views are down and keep it PUSHING.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Celebs Who Publicly Supported the Menendez Bros: Kim Kardashian, Gypsy Rose<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tErik Men\u00e9ndez and Lyle Men\u00e9ndez have built a large group of supporters after their infamous murder trial \u2014 and some of the people in their corner include high-profile celebrities. Erik and Lyle were originally arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree murder after their parents, Jos\u00e9 and Kitty Men\u00e9ndez, were found dead in their [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Talia\u2019s mother, Tammi Saccoman-Menendez<\/strong> and the brothers\u2019 attorney Mark Geragos<\/strong> both outright condemned the parole board\u2019s decision, while a family statement released on Thursday was more measured.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we respect the decision, today\u2019s outcome was of course disappointing and not what we hoped for,\u201d the Menendez family said in a statement. \u201cBut our belief in Erik remains unwavering and we know he will take the Board\u2019s recommendation in stride. His remorse, growth, and the positive impact he\u2019s had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold to the hope he is able to return home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Us Weekly<\/em> has reached out to California Board of Parole Hearings and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for comment.<\/p>\n

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