Rosie O’Donnell Details Her Surprising Relationship with Lyle Menendez — Including Why She Felt ‘Love’ for Him

• Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she has a surprising friendship with the convicted murderer Lyle Menendez in a new interview
• Menendez was convicted of first-degree murder with his brother Erik Menendez for the 1989 fatal shooting of their parents
• O’Donnell previously expressed her belief that the brothers’ actions were a result of self-defense during a 1996 appearance on Larry King Live

Rosie O’Donnell is opening up about an unlikely friendship. 

The actress, 63, recalled how a 1996 appearance on Larry King Live, where she expressed her belief that the Menendez brothers’ actions were a result of self-defense, unexpectedly led to her developing a friendship with Lyle Menendez.

He and his brother Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder for the 1989 fatal shooting of their parents. During their trial, the brothers alleged that they were sexually abused by their father.

O’Donnell told The New York Times in an interview published on April 12 that she received a letter from Menendez thanking her for offering her support. She said that he added he felt the former talk show host personally “knew” that his defense was true. (Years later, in 2019, O’Donnell would reveal that she was sexually abused by her father as a child.)

“At that point, I had not ventured anywhere near this in my family or in my therapy,” she told the Times, adding that she did not respond to Menendez’s letter. 

However, O’Donnell continued to advocate for the Menendez brothers, and she even discussed their controversial case on TikTok after watching a 2022 documentary. Menendez’s then-wife, Rebecca Sneed, eventually reached out and asked if she wanted to be connected with him. 

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The former View co-host’s first conversation with Menendez lasted multiple hours, she told the Times. 

“Then he started calling me on a regular basis from the tablet phone thing they have,” O’Donnell said. “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.”

O’Donnell proceeded to stay in touch with Menendez and visited him in prison. 

Following a 1993 mistrial, the Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. They’ve since fought to be released from prison, insisting that they murdered their parents out of fear for their lives. 

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In March, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said he would not recommend resentencing for the Menendez brothers because he felt that they had not accepted responsibility for their actions. 

Recently, O’Donnell has moved to Ireland with her 12-year-old child Clay, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. She confirmed her move last month and explained that Donald Trump’s presidency played a significant role in her decision.

“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,” the actress said in a TikTok video. “When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back.”