Celeb Reactions to the Menendez Brothers Case

Celeb-Reactions-to-the-Menendez-Brothers-Case

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re breaking down the reactions of public figures — both positive and negative — to the wild legal saga of the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik. Please note that, due to the case’s sensitive nature, the entries in this video are unranked, and all celebs to follow are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Javier Bardem

This Oscar-winning Spanish actor is a passionate, vocal advocate for a plethora of social issues, so it’s perhaps not shocking that he took interest in the Menendez case. In fact, Bardem himself even admitted that Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” miniseries, detailing the lead-up to and aftermath of the Menendez brothers’ crimes, might be the only project he’s ever acted in without having first read its script. The “No Country for Old Men” star, who plays the brothers’ allegedly abusive father José, lambasted the social conditions at the time of the Menendez trial, “where a man is a man and you cannot express any emotion and you can’t share your weakness [...] and that creates so much harm around him.”

Sandra Bernhard

We should point out that, in line with Javier Bardem’s aforementioned comments, the 1990s were a radically different time in terms of societal attitudes towards victims of abuse. In particular, male victims of abuse. While the truth in the case of the Menendez brothers is likely totally unknowable, the lack of empathy, and even outright disdain, for Lyle and Erik was palpable. The fact that the two men had killed their parents wasn’t in question after their arrest, so public criticism of them largely focused on their background and demeanor in court. Case in point: veteran comedian and performer Sandra Bernhard minced no words regarding her thoughts on the Menendez brothers on one of her many “Late Show” appearances.

Pam Bozanich

While the name “Pam Bozanich” may not ring any bells to the average person, those familiar with the twisted, torrid story of the Menendez brothers are all too aware of the role Bozanich played in the brothers’ ordeal in court. An L.A. deputy district attorney at the time of the murders, Bozanich prosecuted Lyle and Erik during their first respective trials — these ended with a hung jury, and a second trial resulted in the brothers’ sentencing to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The outspoken Bozanich maintained a relatively low profile in the years following the trial, but resurfaced for Netflix’s 2024 “Menendez Brothers” documentary, in which the litigator was far from tight-lipped about her feelings.

Kathy Griffin

This bawdy comedian is no stranger to criticism and controversy. In fact, she was the subject of a Secret Service investigation in 2017. This occurred after she engaged in a photoshoot perceived as a threat on the life of then-President Donald Trump. As such, it may not be a total surprise to learn, then, that Griffin had, at one point, weighed in on Lyle and Erik’s situation. When “The Menendez Brothers” unearthed footage of Griffin mocking the brothers’ circumstances and post-crime spending spree, the comic took to TikTok to respond to social media criticism of her lack of tact.

Kim Kardashian

The release of Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” on Netflix reignited public interest in the Menendez brothers’ case. As pointed out by the “Menendez Brothers” documentary, released just a few weeks after “Monsters,” public sentiment regarding Erik and Lyle has shifted significantly in recent years, with many social media users demanding their release. One such Menendez defender was none other than Kim Kardashian. The reality show star even met with the brothers in prison (among a group of other prisoners), bringing along Cooper Koch, who played Erik on “Monsters.” Kardashian wrote, in an October 3rd, 2024 personal essay for NBC News, that “[w]e owe it to those little boys who lost their childhoods, who never had a chance to be heard, helped or saved.”

Cooper Koch

Speaking of Erik actor Koch, the performer has been open about his belief in Lyle and Erik’s story. Commenting on “Monsters’” fifth part, hailed for its filmmaking style consisting of a single, almost theatrical long take, Koch expressed his hope that “after that episode, people really sympathize with him and believe his story.” Asked about Erik Menendez’s slamming of the show’s alleged inaccuracies, Koch gave a gracious and even-handed response, stating that “I sympathize with him, I empathize with him. I get it. I understand how difficult it would be to have the worst part of your life be televised for millions of people to see.”

Nathan Lane

Legend of stage and screen Lane, who portrays journalist Dominick Dunne on “Monsters,” took a more nuanced approach to the events of the Menendez case. Speaking to People magazine shortly after the September 2024 release of “Monsters” on Netflix, Lane asserted that he believed Erik and Lyle’s claims of abuse, but cautioned viewers against making black-and-white value judgements. Said the Tony and Emmy winner, “Not everyone is going to agree with every single point of view, but that's what makes horse races,” and that “just because Dominick Dunn [said] at dinner parties, ‘Maybe this is what happened,’ we shouldn't all lose our heads. That's just somebody theorizing about the case and it's not what the show is trying to tell you.”

John Malkovich & the Cast of “Saturday Night Live” (season 19)

Oscar nominee Malkovich and the “SNL” cast/writers’ room didn’t personally weigh in on the Menendez scandal, but we’re counting the show’s 1993 parody of the protracted trial. Aired as part of that year’s October 23rd episode, this now-controversial sketch hasn’t aged particularly well. This owes to its unsympathetic portrayal of the brothers and their actions in the courtroom. Ostensibly intended to poke fun at the brothers’ lack of tangible proof for their abuse claims, this segment joins the unenviable ranks of other contemporary media depictions of Lyle and Erik. That is to say, it’s a piece of media that, at one point, aligned with public opinion, but now reads as insensitive and mean-spirited to victims of abuse.

Ryan Murphy

And now to hear from the man who single-handedly reinitiated the Menendez brothers media firestorm, reviving it from the annals of history to, once again, a hot-button issue. Murphy, who’d acted as the showrunner for the first season of “Monster,” returned to helm the show’s Menendez-inspired second season, alongside Ian Brennan. After Erik Menendez panned the show and went after Murphy, the often-controversial filmmaker commented that “[t]he Menendez brothers should be sending me flowers,” and that “[t]hey haven’t had so much attention in 30 years. And it’s gotten the attention of not only this country, but all over the world.” In a later interview, Murphy speculated that, due to “Monsters,” “I think they can be out of prison by Christmas. I really believe that.”

Rosie O’Donnell

The veteran comedian and former “View” co-host has, over time, played an unexpectedly significant role in advocating for Lyle and Erik Menendez. O’Donnell, in an October 4th, 2024 interview with Variety, recalled that a call from Lyle’s wife resulted in her visiting the brothers in prison and developing an ongoing relationship; O’Donnell claims that she speaks to the brothers “a lot.” Upon hearing that a date had been set for the brothers’ new hearing, O’Donnell commented that “I think everyone who brought attention to it should be commended, including ‘Monsters.’ I’m glad that it happened. I’m not one to say it did or didn’t help. I just know, in my opinion, it could have been much more accurate.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t hesitate to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE, or 7233.