In recent years, Kim Kardashian has become quite the advocate for incarcerated individuals. It makes sense, considering she's studying to become a lawyer and has a huge platform as an A-list celebrity. And recently, the reality star issued a public message calling for the life sentences of the Menéndez brothers, Lyle and Erik to be reconsidered.
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To recap, Erik and Lyle were sentenced to life in prison after killing their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in 1989. They were only 18 and 21 at the time and claimed they shot their parents after suffering years of sexual and physical abuse. In September 2024, the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story sparked a renewed public interest in their case.
Kim Kardashian advocated for the Menéndez brothers in a personal essay.
On October 3, Kim published an essay via NBC News about the Menéndez brothers. The Skims founder declared she hopes “Erik and Lyle Menendez’s life sentences are reconsidered.” She also described their case as “complex” and detailed how the justice system fell short.
In her essay, Kim argued that Erik and Lyle were 'denied a fair second trial.'
In her essay, Kim recounted the Menéndez brothers' first trial was a joint one that allowed evidence supporting their abuse claims. More than half of the 24 jurors voted not guilty on the murder charges in the widely publicized proceedings. However, for the second trial, the judge had each brother tried separately, much of the abuse evidence was declared inadmissible, and a manslaughter conviction was off the table.
"Some witnesses from the first trial were barred from testifying about the alleged abuse, depriving the jurors of crucial evidence," Kim wrote. "The prosecutor, having successfully argued to exclude the abuse testimony, mocked the brothers’ defense during his closing arguments for not producing any evidence of abuse."
Kim also said the brothers are 'not monsters.'
"I have spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters," Kim wrote. "They are kind, intelligent, and honest men."
In prison, Lyle and Erik both have "exemplary disciplinary records," she noted. They have also "earned multiple college degrees, worked as caregivers for elderly incarcerated individuals in hospice, and been mentors in college programs."
The mother of four added, "When I visited the prison three weeks ago, one of the wardens told me he would feel comfortable having them as neighbors. Twenty-four family members, including their parents’ siblings, have released statements fully supporting Lyle and Erik and have respectfully requested that the justice system free them."
Finally, Kim explained how the punishment did not fit the crime.
Kim acknowledged that the killings were "not excusable." However, she also detailed how the punishment did not fit the crimes the Menéndez brothers committed more than 30 years ago.
"The trial and punishment these brothers received were more befitting a serial killer than two individuals who endured years of sexual abuse by the very people they loved and trusted," Kim explained. "I don’t believe that spending their entire natural lives incarcerated was the right punishment for this complex case."
If the crimes were committed and the brothers went on trial today, Kim argued the outcome "would have been dramatically different."
She concluded, "I also strongly believe that they were denied a fair second trial and that the exclusion of crucial abuse evidence denied Erik and Lyle the opportunity to fully present their case, further undermining the fairness of their conviction."
The Netflix portrayal of the Menéndez brothers' sparked backlash.
In Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, creator Ryan Murphy and others took certain liberties with the story. One difference was Lyle and Erik's incestuous relationship. The show also portrayed Lyle using cocaine. There is no significant evidence to support either of these details.
Ryan acknowledged it brought the case back into the spotlight.
Following the online backlash, Ryan spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about Monsters.
“The Menéndez brothers should be sending me flowers,” he told the publication on October 1. “They 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. There’s sort of an outpouring of interest in their lives and in the case.”
