Kim Kardashian calls to free Erik and Lyle Menendez after brutal 1996 killings of parents
Kim Kardashian is calling for the release of Lyle and Erik Menendez.
In a personal essay shared exclusively with NBC News and published Thursday, the Skims founder wrote that her "hope is that Erik and Lyle Menendez’s life sentences are reconsidered" after a renewed interest in the Menendez brothers' case in recent months.
"We are all products of our experiences. They shape who we were, who we are, and who we will be. Physiologically and psychologically, time changes us, and I doubt anyone would claim to be the same person they were at 18," she wrote.
In recent years, Kardashian has become a leading voice on criminal justice reform, even passing the California "baby bar" exam in 2021 and lobbying the Trump and Biden administrations on criminal justice issues.
More: Erik Menendez slams Ryan Murphy, Netflix for 'dishonest portrayal' of his parent's murders
The "Kardashians" star recounted the case, which captivated the nation in 1996 during two highly publicized trials after "the brothers, aged 21 and 18, respectively, viciously shot and killed their parents in their Beverly Hills home" in 1989.
But Kardashian defended the brothers in her essay, detailing their claims that the killings were the result of yearslong sexual abuse and molestation at the hands of their father José, a Hollywood business executive.
"As is often the case, this story is much more complex than it appears on the surface," Kardashian wrote in her essay, adding later that "both brothers said they had been sexually, physically and emotionally abused for years by their parents." During their trial and subsequent conviction, the brothers have contended that their mother Mary Louise, who was also known as "Kitty," was a willing accomplice in their abuse.
In her essay, the billionaire beauty mogul added that "following years of abuse and a real fear for their lives, Erik and Lyle chose what they thought at the time was their only way out — an unimaginable way to escape their living nightmare."
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Menendez brothers case: District attorney to review new evidence
Kardashian noted discrepancies in the duo's legal trials noting how in their second trial, "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 said the brothers "had no chance of a fair trial against this backdrop" of a televised first trial and the circumstances of their second trial.
The Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón announced in a Thursday press conference that his office would review new evidence in the brothers' case, including a letter sent by one of the brothers to a family member alleging he was the victim of molestation.
Kim Kardashian discusses O.J. Simpson while calling to free the Menendez Brothers in NBC essay
The Sknn founder also drew on personal experiences in her essay, writing that "more than four months after the Menendez mistrials, O.J. Simpson was charged with the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman." Kardashian's father Robert Kardashian Sr. was a defense attorney on Simpson's legal "dream team" and a close friend to the famed Buffalo Bills running back-turned-convicted felon.
Kardashian revealed that she visited Richard J. Donovan Correctional facility, the California state prison near San Diego, in mid-September and met the brothers, confirming earlier Variety reports.
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"I have spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent, and honest men. In prison, they both have exemplary disciplinary records," Kardashian wrote. "They have earned multiple college degrees, worked as caregivers for elderly incarcerated individuals in hospice, and been mentors in college programs — committed to giving back to others."
She continued: "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."
Variety reported on Sept. 21 that Kardashian paid a visit to the prison where the Menendez brothers are housed along with Ryan Murphy's "Monsters" star Cooper Koch, who plays Erik in the controversial second season of the Netflix miniseries.
The mom of four, who rose to fame with her four sisters and mom Kris Jenner, also said that "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. There was no room for empathy, let alone sympathy."
The reality star asked: "Can anyone honestly deny that the justice system would have treated the Menendez sisters more leniently?" noting that at the time, "there were virtually no systems in place to support survivors, and public awareness of the trauma of male sexual abuse was minimal, often clouded by preconceived judgments and homophobia."
This story was updated to add a video.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Menendez brothers update: Kim Kardashian urges Lyle, Erik to be freed