Rosie O’Donnell says Lyle Menendez is the first ‘straight man’ she’s ‘loved’ and ‘trusted’: Comedian and jailed killer are close friends

Rosie O’Donnell is looking backmost astatine life now, and then.

The comedian, 63, precocious elaborate having a relationship with Lyle Menendez, 57, who on pinch his relative Erik Menendez, 54, was convicted of nan 1989 murders of their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez.

“He started calling maine connected a regular ground from nan tablet telephone point they have,” O’Donnell told The New York Times connected Saturday. “He would show maine astir his life, what he’s been doing successful situation and, for nan first clip successful my life, I felt safe capable to spot and beryllium susceptible and emotion a consecutive man.”

The brothers were sentenced to life successful situation without nan anticipation of parole successful 1994. While discussing nan crime connected “Larry King Live” successful 1996, nan erstwhile talk show big said she believed Lyle and Erik’s claims of puerility maltreatment and molestation by their begetter and that sidesplitting their parents was an enactment of self-defense.

After her appearance, O’Donnell received a missive from Lyle that “thanked her for her support and stated his belief that she ‘knew’ from a individual spot that what he was saying was true.”

The character herself had acquisition pinch nan subject, alleging to nan outlet that “she and her siblings had been molested by their father.”

“At that point, I had not ventured anyplace adjacent this successful my family aliases successful my therapy,” O’Donnell continued earlier admitting she did not constitute Lyle backmost astatine first.

It wasn’t until 2022 erstwhile nan siblings’ lawsuit gained a caller life connected TikTok pursuing a documentary, that nan comic reached backmost out. O’Donnell explained that she heard from nan prisoner’s wife, Rebecca Sneed, who contacted her to “see if she was willing successful speaking pinch him.”

Since then, nan pen pals person had accordant connection pinch their first telephone speech lasting much than 3 hours.

O’Donnell admitted that astatine first, their interaction sparked interest among her friends. She “shrugged” astatine nan truth that “he’s a murderer” and went guardant pinch visiting Lyle successful prison.

The “America” alum told The Times she “spent 2 weeks commuting regular to nan prison.”

Lyle besides talked O’Donnell into getting a canine for her boy Clay done a situation programme he was progressive in. The inmates moving connected nan task train dogs to spell location pinch abnormal veterans and autistic children.

Clay was paired pinch a Labrador operation that was trained by a man who was successful situation for equipped robbery.

“I noticed nan quality successful Clay immediately,” O’Donnell said of her son’s enslaved pinch nan pup. “I was shocked to find retired that gangly nan stories I heard from different mothers of autistic children were true.”

The personage decided to bring consciousness to this program, creating nan upcoming documentary “Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Autism,” which hits Hulu connected April 22.

O’Donnell’s movie comes connected nan heels of her moving to Ireland pursuing Donald Trump’s statesmanlike win.

“It’s been beautiful wonderful, I person to say. The group are truthful loving and truthful kind, truthful welcoming. And I’m very grateful,” she said successful a March TikTok video.

O’Donnell’s told viewers she is “in nan process” of getting her Irish citizenship since her grandparents are from nan country.

“I was ne'er personification who thought I would move to different country, that’s what I decided would beryllium nan champion for myself and my 12-year-old child. And present we are,” she explained.

“You know, I’m happy. Clay is happy. I miss my different kids. I miss my friends. I miss galore things astir life location astatine location and I’m trying to find a location present successful this beautiful state and erstwhile it is safe for each citizens to person adjacent authorities location successful America, that’s erstwhile we will see coming back.”

Lyle and Erik, meanwhile, are still down bars successful nan US but are now seeking a resentencing.

After 30 years down bars, nan tribunal is scheduled to make a determination connected resentencing aft hearings connected April 17 and 18.

Many of Lyle and Erik’s relatives showed up to nan courthouse Friday to show their support during tribunal and inquire for their freedom.

“Eric and Lyle person taken afloat work for what they did, and for decades now they continuously shown their insight, done their ashes, not conscionable their words,” their relative Anamaria Baralt told reporters pursuing nan hearing.

During nan hearing, prosecutors claimed that nan brothers person ne'er admitted to their “lies” and person shown perfectly nary remorse for their actions.

Baralt said those claims are “patently false.”

I don’t cognize why [prosecutors] support repeating that. That’s conscionable not true,” she added.