In an unusual twist of fate, Rosie O'Donnell has formed a deep and trusting bond with convicted murderer Lyle Menendez.
Their friendship, which began in the mid-90s and was rekindled in 2022, has even inspired a new documentary on service dogs for autistic children, Fox News reported.
Rosie O'Donnell, 63, first became publicly supportive of Lyle Menendez during his infamous trial in 1996, as seen on "Larry King Live". Menendez, now 57, along with his younger brother Erik, was convicted of the 1989 murder of their parents and is serving a life sentence without parole in San Diego. This initial act of compassion by O'Donnell kicked off what would become a long-term friendship.
Following her public support, Lyle Menendez sent O'Donnell a thank-you letter, appreciating her understanding of his traumatic past. This gesture marked the beginning of their correspondence, although O'Donnell did not initially reply due to her circumstances at the time.
The reconnection between O'Donnell and Menendez occurred after O'Donnell viewed a 2022 documentary presenting new evidence supporting the brothers' defense. Moved by the documentary, O'Donnell reached out to Menendez through his wife, Rebecca Sneed, who facilitated their communication.
Their first phone call since the trial lasted between two to three hours. O'Donnell and Menendez discussed various topics, including his life in prison and the programs he was involved with. O'Donnell visited Menendez in prison following this call, solidifying their rekindled friendship.
During their conversations, Menendez informed O'Donnell about a prison program where inmates train service dogs for the blind, disabled veterans, and children with autism. Intrigued, O'Donnell decided to adopt a service dog from the program for her autistic son, Clay.
The service dog, named Kuma, was adopted by O'Donnell for her son and the positive impact was noticeable almost immediately. "I noticed the difference in Clay immediately," O'Donnell shared, highlighting the immediate benefits of having Kuma around.
Inspired by her son's response to Kuma, and the stories shared by other mothers, O'Donnell produced a documentary titled "Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Autism." This film aims to showcase the transformative effects that service dogs can have on the lives of children with autism.
The documentary is set to debut on Hulu on April 22, and it represents a passion project for O'Donnell, driven by her personal experiences with her son. "I was shocked to find out that all the stories I heard from other mothers of autistic children were true," she mentioned regarding the motivation behind the film.
While O'Donnell's friendship with Menendez has been met with criticism and incredulity from friends and the public alike, she maintains that it has opened up new avenues of trust and emotional security for her. "He started calling me on a regular basis from the tablet phone thing they have," she recounted about their regular communication.
Through their unlikely friendship, O'Donnell expressed a newfound ability to trust and love a straight man, something she had not experienced before. "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," she confessed.
This unique bond, though controversial, showcases the complex human interactions that can transcend conventional boundaries. While Menendez's criminal actions are undeniably severe, his relationship with O'Donnell provides a glimpse into the rehabilitative potential and human connections that can occur even behind bars.
