Kim Kardashian commended Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón for “righting a significant wrong” by requesting that the Menendez brothers be resentenced for the 1989 murders of their parents.
“Your commitment to fairness and truth is commendable,” the “Kardashians” star, 44, wrote in a message to Gascón, 70, via her Instagram Story Thursday.
Kardashian then addressed the many friends, relatives and supporters of Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez — who, like her, have been fighting for their freedom — saying, “Your voices were heard.”
The actress, who stars in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming legal drama “All’s Fair,” also took a moment to credit the TV producer for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
She said the hit Neflix show “helped expose the abuse and injustices” in the brothers’ cases.
Kardashian, who is a mother of four, said she believed that “society’s understanding of child abuse has evolved, and social media empowers us to question the systems in place.”
In their 1993 trial, Erik and Lyle gave emotional testimonies on the stand, alleging that their late father, José Menendez, had sexually abused them for many years throughout their lives.
They claimed their mother, Kitty Menendez, was aware of the alleged abuse but did not intervene.
The first murder trial resulted in a hung jury, as jurors were divided on how to convict the brothers.
They then had a retrial in 1995, but much of the sexual abuse evidence was excluded that time, resulting in the murder convictions and sentences for life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Since then, bombshell new information that seemingly corroborates that Erik and Lyle were abused as children has created a large demand for a resentencing.
One key piece of evidence was a note Erik wrote his now-deceased cousin Andy Cano months before the murders that read, “I’ve been trying to avoid dad. It’s still happening Andy but it’s worse for me now.”
Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo which José helped oversee, has also come forward to allege that the entertainment executive sexually abused him when he was 14 years old.
Kardashian added in her statement, “This case highlights the importance of challenging decisions and seeking truth, even when guilt is not in question.”
“I believe in the justice system’s ability to evolve, and I am grateful for a society where we can challenge decisions and seek justice,” the reality star, who has been fighting for prison reform for years, continued.
She concluded, “Never stop questioning.”
Last week, Kardashian explained to Variety why she has been so passionate about the brothers’ cases after having seen “Monsters” and it showing her “so much about abuse.”
“Imagine if no one believed you. … They’ve been in it for almost 35 years. That’s more than a first-degree murder charge,” she told the outlet at the Academy Museum Gala on Oct. 19.
“I am someone who believes in second chances and I really believe in them.”
Kardashian had also met with the brothers in person during a prison visit with “Monsters” star Cooper Koch, who played Erik in Murphy’s series.
Gascón said in a press conference that Lyle, 56, and Erik, 53, have been on “a journey of redemption and rehabilitation” and had “paid their debt to society.”
However, the district attorney noted that it was not an easy decision to request a resentencing as people in his office were divided, with some who did not believe the brothers had been molested and others who thought they had been abused and should be released “immediately.”
“There’s no excuse for murder, and I will never imply that what we’re doing here is to excuse their behavior — because even if you get abused, the right path is to call the police and seek help,” Gascón said.
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The final decision is still up to a judge, who will determine whether the Menendez brothers’ new parole-eligible sentences would change to 50 years to life — 25 years for each murder.
However, because they were convicted when they were under the age of 26, they could be categorized as “youth offenders” under California law, which means they would be illegible for parole right away.
A hearing on the matter could be held within 30 to 45 days.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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