Latest news with #UnleashingHope:ThePowerofServiceDogsforChildrenwithAutism
Irish Daily Star
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
How Lyle Menendez helped Rosie O'Donnell from behind bars as she shares how often they talk
Rosie O'Donnell 's unlikely bond with Lyle Menendez , one of two brothers convicted of killing their parents in 1989, continues to grow stronger. The former co-host of The View tells Page Six she still speaks with Lyle 'about two or three times a week' while he and his brother, Erik Menendez, serve life sentences without parole. O'Donnell first reached out to Lyle in 2022 after watching a documentary about the Menendez brothers . The case has drawn new attention recently due to a Netflix series that claims the brothers were victims of years of sexual abuse by their father. O'Donnell says she holds on to hope that Lyle and Erik will one day walk free. "I'm sure of it in my mind," she said. "I have to be." Read More Related Articles Cillian Murphy says this actress is 'Meryl Streep of her generation' Read More Related Articles People are only now realizing what the band name Thin Lizzy means after 56 years She added, "I think it's the only way that you can love and care for someone who's serving life without parole, is to have endless hope and believe in their ability to get out of this really inhumane sentence." The former co-host speaks with Lyle 'about two or three times a week.' (Image: AFP via Getty Images) During a visit with Lyle, O'Donnell noticed several inmates spending time with golden retrievers. Lyle explained that prisoners were helping train service dogs for children with autism. He even encouraged O'Donnell to consider getting a dog for her youngest child, Clay, who has autism and uses they/them pronouns. Following his advice, O'Donnell arranged for Clay, now 12, to be paired with a black Labrador mix named Kuma. She says the transformation has been remarkable. 'The drawings of people with bloody hands and knives have all stopped,' O'Donnell shared. For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here . 'The laughter has come back, the brightness in their eyes, the ability to go out to restaurants, the ability to stay present and not disappear into themselves, usually because Kuma is coming over and nudging them.' Inspired by the program's impact, O'Donnell produced a short documentary, 'Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism,' now streaming on Hulu. O'Donnell also voiced anger toward recent comments made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who claimed that autistic children "will never pay taxes. They'll never hold a job. They'll never play baseball. They'll never write a poem. They'll never go out on a date." 'I hope I never have to see him in person because I don't feel I would be able to contain my disgust,' she said. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rosie O'Donnell reveals shocking number of weekly calls with convicted murderer Lyle Menendez
Rosie O'Donnell opened up about her friendship with imprisoned killer Lyle Menendez. The 63-year-old comedian struck up an unexpected friendship with one of the two Menendez brothers who were convicted for the murder of their parents. She admitted that she talks to the convicted murderer 'about two to three times a week,' according to Page Six. O'Donnell said that they bonded over dogs, and this comes after she confessed that the infamous killer is the first straight man she has ever trusted and loved. He and his younger brother Erik Menendez are still serving life sentences without parole for the murders of their parents in 1989. O'Donnell previously revealed she reached out to Menendez in 2022 after watching a documentary about their harrowing story. This comes as the Menendez brothers are seeking resentencing and potentially earlier release due to newly emerged evidence alleging childhood sexual abuse by their brother. O'Donnell is hopeful that they could receive a retrial and potentially be released in the near future. 'I'm sure of it in my mind,' she told the outlet. 'I have to be.' She added: I think it's the only way that you can love and care for someone who's serving life without parole, is to have endless hope and believe in their ability to get out of this really inhumane sentence.' In addition to their frequent phone calls, O'Donnell also visits Menendez whenever she has the chance. She revealed that during one particular visit, she learned about a service dog program at the prison. She recalled Menendez explaining to her that the dogs were being trained by incarcerated men to help children with autism. He also suggested that O'Donnell get a dog for her youngest child Clay, who is on the spectrum. He and his younger brother Erik Menendez are still serving life sentences without parole for the murders of their parents in 1989. O'Donnell previously revealed she reached out to Menendez in 2022 after watching a documentary about their harrowing story; pictured December 1992 in Los Angeles O'Donnell said the following year, 12-year-old Clay, who goes by they/them pronouns, matched with and brought home a black Labrador mix named Kuma. The actress said that since then, she has seen Clay's life change. 'The drawings of people with bloody hands and knives have all stopped,' O'Donnell shared. 'The laughter has come back, the brightness in their eyes, the ability to go out to restaurants, the ability to stay present and not disappear into themselves, usually because Kuma is coming over and nudging them.' O'Donnell, who recently moved to Ireland with Clay, has since produced a documentary about the service dog program. Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism is now available to stream on Hulu.
Perth Now
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Lyle Menendez 'helped change' Rosie O'Donnell's autistic child's life
Rosie O'Donnell says convicted murderer Lyle Menendez helped change her autistic child's life. The 63-year-old comedian felt like she "was kicked in the stomach" when 12-year-old Clay - who adopted a gender-neutral name after coming out as non-binary - was diagnosed with autism in 2010 but she was encouraged to get a service dog by Menendez, who along is serving a life sentence without parole for murdering his parents Jose and Kitty in 1989. Rosie - who added a pooch named Kuma to her family in January - told the US TV show 'Extra': "I did not know, as the mother of an autistic child who was diagnosed at two years old, I didn't know they had service dogs. "[Clay] became very disconnected from everyone, [Clay] did not want to go out of the house, so it was just [Clay] and I alone, and we both were suffering, and I didn't know what to do. "I never heard of it until I befriended Lyle Menendez, we became friends three years ago. He had written me a letter 30 years ago that I did not respond to. "It was Lyle who said to me, 'I want you to do it. Don't lose this opportunity [to get a service dog]'." The former talk show host - who has relocated to Ireland with her family following US President Donald Trump's reelection victory in 2024 - has produced a new Hulu documentary called 'Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism'. The film documents how service dogs can help improve the lives of those with autism. The programme, which is available to stream now, also follows the journeys of other families in the Guide Dogs of America programme. Rosie told Variety: 'When I looked at our dog, I held her face and looked her in the eyes, and said, 'We're going to save my kid. 'And sure enough, we did. I'm eternally indebted, and this organisation is going to be the focus of my fundraising philanthropy the rest of my life."
