Rosie O’Donnell Faces Backlash After Calling to Free Menendez Brothers Following Parole Denials.
Rosie O’Donnell Slammed for Supporting Menendez Brothers After Parole Denials.
Rosie O’Donnell has stirred controversy by publicly calling for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez—just days after both brothers were denied parole in separate hearings, more than three decades after their convictions for the murders of their parents.
The actress posted “Free the Menendez brothers” on Instagram Saturday, a message that divided her followers. While some applauded her compassion, many criticized O’Donnell for standing behind the siblings, who admitted to fatally shooting José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in 1989.
Rosie O’Donnell calls to free the Menendez brothers after parole denials, sparking backlash as legal experts weigh in on California’s youth offender law.
O’Donnell’s support for the Menendez brothers is not new. She defended them during a 1990s appearance on Larry King Live and later began corresponding with Lyle, who thanked her in a letter. In 2023, she visited both brothers in prison.
Recalling that meeting, O’Donnell told Variety:
“I saw Lyle and gave him a hug. Then Erik came over to me, hugged me, and whispered, ‘Thank you for loving my brother.’ It was very, very moving.”
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Social Media Reaction
Her Instagram post, however, was met with swift pushback.
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“Yeah no, this I don’t agree with 🤦🏽♀️😳 come on Rosie,” one user wrote.
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“I believe they were abused but not that it was self-defense. I believe it was revenge,” another said.
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A longtime follower told her bluntly: “Lifelong fan but your entitlement is showing.”
Many argued the brothers, then in their 20s, could have left their allegedly abusive household rather than resort to violence. Others criticized O’Donnell for elevating the case amid what they saw as more pressing national issues.
Still, some defended her stance, noting the brothers’ claims of long-term sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of their father.
Talia Menendez: “The Fight Is Not Over”
Erik’s daughter, Talia, has become one of the family’s strongest advocates. After Lyle’s parole denial Friday—just one day after Erik’s—she accused the system of “mentally torturing” the men by forcing them to relive their trauma during lengthy hearings.
“We will not stop until they are free,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m standing 10 toes for our family.”
Talia, adopted by Erik in 1999 after he married her mother, Tammi Saccoman-Menendez, has also called out celebrities she believes abandoned the brothers. Despite past visits from Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kris Jenner, she claims the only public figure consistently supporting them is actor Cooper Koch, who portrayed Erik in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
“Where are the celebrities that were ‘advocating’ for them? It’s been way too quiet,” she said.
Why Parole Was Denied
The California Board of Parole cited public safety concerns in denying both men’s release.
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Erik Menendez: Denied after a nearly 10-hour hearing. The board pointed to the brutality of the murders, past disciplinary violations, and possession of contraband cell phones.
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Lyle Menendez: Denied the following day. While Commissioner Julie Garland noted his remorse and positive contributions in prison, she said he still displayed signs of “anti-social behavior.”
Both brothers, now in their mid-50s, received three-year denials but may be eligible for administrative review in 18 months. Follow the full the Menendez Brother's Timeline Here.
The Legal Angle: California’s Youth Offender Law
Legally, the Menendez case highlights how California is grappling with the role of trauma and youth in sentencing. Both Erik and Lyle were under 26 when they killed their parents, which places them within the scope of California’s “youth offender parole” law (SB 260, later expanded by SB 261 and SB 394).
This law reflects research on adolescent brain development, acknowledging that younger offenders may lack full impulse control and are more capable of rehabilitation. Under these reforms, individuals who committed serious crimes before age 26 are entitled to earlier parole hearings and more consideration of mitigating factors, including abuse and trauma.
Former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón even requested in 2024 that the brothers be resentenced to 50 years to life—a move that would have made them immediately parole-eligible. While the resentencing went through, the parole board’s discretion remains decisive.
In similar cases, youth offender parole laws have led to releases for inmates who committed violent crimes in their teens and early 20s, provided they demonstrated sustained rehabilitation. However, the Menendez case is complicated by the notoriety of their crimes, the brutality of the murders, and public perception.
Comparable California Parole Cases
The Menendez denials echo debates from other high-profile cases in the state:
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Leslie Van Houten (Manson family member): Convicted in the 1969 LaBianca murders, Van Houten was paroled in 2023 after more than 50 years in prison. Multiple governors had blocked her release, but she ultimately benefited from California’s evolving parole standards for youth offenders.
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Rene “Boxer” Enriquez (Mexican Mafia leader): Despite renouncing the gang and aiding law enforcement, his parole was repeatedly blocked due to safety and notoriety concerns—highlighting how optics can override rehabilitation.
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Shiloh Quine (murder conviction, 1980): Paroled in 2022 after becoming the first California inmate to undergo state-funded gender confirmation surgery. Her release was seen as a recognition of rehabilitation and changing correctional policies.
These comparisons show the broader dilemma: California’s parole system is moving toward reform and rehabilitation, but high-profile or notorious cases often face higher barriers to release.
Next Legal Steps
Attorney Mark Geragos has vowed to appeal the parole denials directly to Governor Gavin Newsom, who under California law has the power to review and overturn parole board decisions in extraordinary cases. Such gubernatorial interventions are rare but not unprecedented.
The Menendez brothers’ continued imprisonment will now test whether California applies its youth-offender reforms consistently, or whether the gravity and notoriety of certain crimes continue to make exceptions to the rule.
Key Takeaway:
The Menendez brothers’ parole denials highlight the tension between California’s evolving youth-offender reforms and the enduring weight of notorious crimes. Their case may become a benchmark for how far rehabilitation and trauma-informed justice can stretch against public opinion and the politics of parole.
