Rosie O’Donnell opens up about her surprise friendship with Lyle Menendez. He is now serving a life sentence after being convicted of murdering his parents in 1989. In a recent conversation, O’Donnell shared how their friendship developed into a remarkable bond. Beyond specifics, he shared about the deep emotional connection they formed through their relationship.
Lyle Menendez and his brother Erik were each convicted on the first count of first-degree murder. They murdered their mother and father in cold blood, Jose & Mary Menendez. In 1996, a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole. This came at the end of a 20-year effort through the courts, which featured a mistrial in 1993. And now, he’s faced over 30 years of incarceration. The turn of events has sparked outrage and sparked a national debate over the case, with many arguing that the brothers were justified in self-defense.
In 1996, O’Donnell profiled Menendez in a positively glowing segment on her now extinct daytime talk show. This chance meeting was the impetus for their surprising friendship. Their connection deepened when Menendez’s then-wife, Rebecca Sneed, reached out to O’Donnell to facilitate communication between them. After this initial introduction, Menendez started routinely calling O’Donnell from a tablet phone provided to prisoners.
In her reflections, O’Donnell explained how these conversations allowed her to gain insight into Menendez’s life behind bars.
“Then he started calling me on a regular basis from the tablet phone thing they have,” – Rosie O’Donnell
By means of these conversations, Menendez conveyed both the reality of his day-to-day experiences and emotional turmoil during the time serving his sentence.
“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,” – Rosie O’Donnell
O’Donnell’s passion for Menendez’s case was rekindled after seeing a documentary in 2022 that chronicled the events leading up to the murders. She posted to TikTok an explanation of why she has taken the approach she has with regards to funding. She wants people to know that Menendez’s choices were rooted in self-defense. This viewpoint is a reprise of her 1996 remarks during her debut on “Larry King Live.” During that performance, she shared how she believed that his harmful actions were rooted in the trauma he suffered.
And even with a case this deep in its long history, something new has happened. In 2023, Nathan Hochman, the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, personally reexamined Lyle Menendez’s case. After thorough deliberation, though, he decided against advising that Menendez’s sentencing status be altered in any way. This decision is indicative of the continued complexities and controversies surrounding the case today, as public opinion is still divided.
O’Donnell has publicly expressed gratitude for her relationship with Menendez, emphasizing significance of their bond in both their lives.
“For the first time in my life, I felt safe enough to trust and be vulnerable and love a straight man,” – Rosie O’Donnell
This special connection shows how powerful friendships can grow even in the most distant situations. With the latter case, Lyle Menendez is still incarcerated. His exchanges with O’Donnell illustrate our profound human desire to be known and to know others.