Kim Kardashian is known for making headlines, both for good reasons and bad. While the model and entrepreneur has had her fair share of scandalous headlines, this time, she is working for a seemingly good cause.
Her activism in prison reforms has already gained traction, especially after she paid a visit to the infamous Menendez brothers in prison shortly after a recent docu-series about them was released on Netflix. Taking it a notch higher, Kim is now speaking out in defense of Lyle and Erik Menendez, openly asking for their release.
Kim Kardashian Says Menendez Brothers Deserve To Be Free
In an essay for NBC News published on Thursday, Kim Kardashian argued that Lyle and Erik Menendez, now 56 and 53, don’t deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison for the 1996 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. The influencer and social justice advocate explained that while the murders shocked the nation, the public has overlooked years of alleged abuse that the brothers suffered at the hands of their parents.
The renewed public interest in their case is spurred by Ryan Murphy’s latest ‘Monster‘ anthology installment, based on the brutal murders of their parents that the brothers were convicted for. The show’s increasing popularity has given Kardashian a platform to revisit their controversial trials.
Related: ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’: Why Did The Brothers Kill Their Parents And Where Are They Now?
“We are all products of our experiences,” Kardashian wrote. “They shape who we were, who we are, and who we will be.” Kim argued that Lyle was 21, and Erik was just 18 when the murders occurred, as she further emphasized how time and trauma can alter people.
“I doubt anyone would claim to be the same person they were at 18. I know I’m not!” she added. She further pointed out that both brothers have claimed they were sexually, physically, and emotionally abused for years by their parents, with Erik alleging that the abuse began when he was just six years old. Despite these claims, she argued, much of this testimony was excluded from their second trial.
Kim Kardashian Says Menendez Brothers’ Suffering Was Overlooked
The first trial after the Menendez brothers got arrested ended in a mistrial, with more than half of the jurors voting “not guilty” due to the abuse testimony. However, Kardashian contends that the O.J. Simpson trial, which took place just before the Menendez brothers’ second trial, drastically shifted the legal and media landscapes. Notably, Kardashian’s late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., was part of Simpson’s defense team.
“Both brothers were tried together before a single jury, much of the abuse evidence was deemed inadmissible, and manslaughter was no longer an option,” Kardashian explained. She criticized how the media turned their story into entertainment, overshadowing the allegations of abuse in favor of sensationalism.
In case you missed it: “Ryan Murphy Cannot Be This Naive And Inaccurate”: Erik Menendez Blasts Netflix Series ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’
“Erik and Lyle’s case became entertainment for the nation, their suffering and stories of abuse ridiculed in skits on Saturday Night Live. The media turned the brothers into monsters and sensationalized eye candy — two arrogant, rich kids from Beverly Hills who killed their parents out of greed,” she wrote.
Kardashian’s essay puts forth an argument that has been the subject of debate for decades. While the brothers are serving their punishment of life imprisonment, many have contended that they deserve to be free. However, some others suggest that there’s no evidence of their sexual abuse by their parents, pointing at foul play in their defense.
