(NewsNation) — Comedian Rosie O’Donnell, who has been advocating for Lyle and Erik Menendez for years, is happy to know that the Los Angeles County District Attorney is reviewing the case of the brothers, who have served more than three decades in prison for killing their parents.
Given the information that’s come to light, O’Donnell said it’s a stark reminder of how far we’ve come in dealing with sexual abuse in all cases, even within families.
“They must take a look at the fact that, back in 1989, no one was ready to believe that fathers raped their sons. But they do. And it’s scary,” O’Donnell told NewsNation’s “CUOMO.”
“I was a kid who grew up in a similar situation,” she said. “Not as terrifying and horrific, but definitely generational abuse and alcoholism in an Irish Catholic family. So, when I initially read the story, I was very drawn to it.”
She says that her public statements drew the brothers’ attention, and eventually helped her confront her own family history.
“I got a letter, when my TV show was on in the 90s, from Lyle. And he said, ‘You know, I’ve heard you speak positively about us, and I hope this is not the reason that I think it is that you can relate to that.’ And I, at that time, was in no way interested in exploring that subject in my own family and my own life.”
Since then, and especially in the past two years, O’Donnell said that knowing the Menendez brothers “has been very healing for me.”