Rosie O’Donnell Drops Bomb About Friendship with Prison Inmate Lyle Menendez – ‘It’s The Only Way…’

In a revelation that’s raised eyebrows across both celebrity circles and true crime followers, Rosie O’Donnell has opened up further about her deep and unlikely friendship with Lyle Menendez—one of the infamous brothers convicted of killing their parents in 1989.

While many may know O’Donnell as a comedian and TV personality, her heartfelt connection with Menendez offers a new lens into her personal life—and her capacity for compassion, hope, and healing.

O’Donnell, 63, recently shared with Page Six that she speaks with Lyle, 57, “about two or three times a week.” The statement has stunned fans, especially considering that Lyle is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the brutal murders of his parents, Jose and Mary “Kitty” Menendez.

Rosie O’Donnell says convicted murderer
Lyle Menendez is the first ‘straight man’ she can ‘love’ and ‘trust.’

The former talk show host has revealed the pair developed a friendship and she felt she could be “vulnerable” with the killer.

“He started calling me on a regular… pic.twitter.com/nzkPfXI93i

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 13, 2025

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Lyle and his brother Erik were convicted in 1996 after a high-profile trial that captivated the nation.

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Yet, in recent years, public opinion has shifted as more information has come to light about the alleged abuse the brothers suffered at the hands of their father.

Their story gained renewed attention following a Netflix documentary that presented a sympathetic view, suggesting years of sexual and emotional abuse led to the fateful 1989 killings.

It was this documentary that prompted O’Donnell to reach out to Lyle in 2022, sparking an unusual but powerful friendship.

Rosie is more than convinced that justice will eventually shift in the Menendez brothers’ favor.

“I’m sure of it in my mind,” she said confidently. “I have to be.”

For Rosie, maintaining that kind of unwavering belief is critical. “It’s the only way that you can love and care for someone who’s serving life without parole,” she explained, “is to have endless hope and believe in their ability to get out of this really inhumane sentence.”

More than just emotional support, Lyle’s impact on Rosie’s life has been tangible.

Rosie O’Donell calls convicted murderer Lyle Menendez her “friend” while crediting him with suggesting to her to get a service dog for her autistic non-binary child. pic.twitter.com/Hli6r04QXf

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 26, 2025

In a candid conversation with Us Weekly, Rosie shared how Lyle played a pivotal role in helping her make a life-changing decision for her 12-year-old child, Clay, who is autistic.

“[Lyle] has helped me a lot. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have [my child’s service] dog,” Rosie revealed.

Lyle participates in a prison program where inmates train service dogs. After hearing about Clay’s struggles, Lyle encouraged Rosie to apply for a service dog despite her moral hesitation about taking resources that others might need.

“While I was really trying to decide whether it was morally right for me to apply [for a service dog] he would say, ‘I’ve been talking to you for two years. I hear Clay every night.’ Because we shared a bed at the time and they would talk on the phone as well. He understood how challenging it can be and said, ‘This is something that will help them and will help you too,’” she explained.

After Rosie brought home the dog, named Kuma, the effects on Clay were immediate and profound.

“The drawings of people with bloody hands and knives have all stopped,” Rosie said.

“The laughter has come back, the brightness in their eyes, the ability to go out to restaurants, the ability to stay present and not disappear into themselves, usually because Kuma is coming over and nudging them.”

‘First time I felt safe enough to trust and be vulnerable and love a straight man’ says Rosie O’Donnell about bizarre friendship with convicted parent killer Lyle Menendez

Revealed to NY Times she ‘just shrugged’ when friends warned her he was a murderer pic.twitter.com/nRCoC1BdV8

— RT (@RT_com) April 13, 2025

While some might question her emotional investment in a man convicted of murder, Rosie isn’t apologizing for her feelings.

She even went so far as to describe her emotional connection with Lyle as a unique form of love.

“He started calling me on a regular basis from the tablet phone thing they have,” Rosie told The New York Times.

“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 admitted that some of her friends have “expressed concern” over her growing bond with Lyle, but that hasn’t dissuaded her from remaining close to him.

Their friendship, grounded in mutual vulnerability and shared trust, seems to defy traditional labels or expectations.

In a world often quick to judge, Rosie O’Donnell’s connection with Lyle Menendez offers a more nuanced take on redemption, human connection, and the power of belief.

Whether or not Lyle will ever walk free again remains uncertain—but for Rosie, the emotional freedom she’s found in their friendship appears to be more real than anything she’s experienced before.

Only time will tell how the story of Lyle Menendez ends.

But in Rosie O’Donnell’s life, he’s already played a transformative role—one rooted in hope, healing, and perhaps most of all, in unexpected love.

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