Rosie O’Donnell and Lyle Menendez: Unlikely Friends for Two Years

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Rosie O’Donnell has an unlikely friend in Lyle Menendez.

Regardless of the 57-year-old’s long-term incarceration since 1989 due to his and his brother Erik Menendez’s conviction for their parents’ murders, his consistent contact with the comedian was instrumental in locating therapy for her young child Clay, 12, who has autism.

She shared with Us Weekly in an interview on April 22 that her child’s service dog wouldn’t be here without him. He was the one who encouraged her when she was deciding whether it was right for her to apply [for a service dog]. For two years, he had been talking to her and emphasized, ‘I hear Clay every night.’

In January, Rosie, along with Clay, relocated to Ireland. Later, she acknowledged that it was Lyle who motivated her to explore the idea of a service animal. This, in turn, resulted in significant and deeply impactful healing for the young girl.

She acknowledged the difficulty and remarked, “This is beneficial not just for them, but also for you,” she added. “Without his assistance, I wouldn’t have taken this step.

Previously known television host expressed that her bond with Lyle was “an essential connection in my existence,” and added, “I understand it might seem peculiar to others.

She clarified that, despite spending 35 years behind bars, restricted only by a phone that interrupts every 20 minutes, he has shown an incredible determination to adapt and continue living. He managed to surmount the limitations prison imposes on human connection and found ways to connect with others in a loving and supportive manner, as he did with her in a brotherly fashion.

Back in 1996, I expressed my support for Lyle and Erik during an appearance on Larry King Live, little did I know it would lead to something extraordinary. Years passed, and I didn’t respond to a letter from Lyle that came after my show. However, recently, I’ve been using social media to advocate for their release, which eventually connected me with Lyle through his then-wife Rebecca Sneed.

According to an article published on April 12th, Rosie said, “He began regularly contacting me from this tablet device they use in prison. He shared details about his life and experiences, and for the first time ever, I felt secure enough to open up, trust, and even develop feelings for a man who identifies as straight.

For more surprising celebrity friendships, keep scrolling.

For quite some time now, they’ve been close friends and have collaborated on various projects. They both appeared in “A Wrinkle in Time,” with Mindy Kaling additionally featuring as a regular cast member on “The Morning Show.” Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that she is currently working alongside others to pen the script for “Legally Blonde 3.” Strangeness factor: Moderate (3/10)

Ayesha Curry, famously known from Food Network, and a former cast member of Mean Girls initially bonded during a vacation in Dubai. Since then, their friendship has deepened significantly. Interestingly enough, Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry were chosen as the godparents for Lindsay and her husband Bader Shammas’ son, Laui.

In July 2023, the two stars from the 2014 movie “Men, Women & Children” met up for a friendly game of basketball outdoors in New York City.

The actor has collaborated with the rapper from the Wu-Tang Clan in multiple films such as “The Man with the Iron Fists”, “American Gangster” and “The Next Three Days”. However, their relationship extends beyond just working together. In an interview with Fuse, Crowe says, “As friends, we converse freely.” He further adds, “It’s natural for me to offer guidance to a friend. In filmmaking, you should know that there are many influential figures, and as a director, you will be expected to cater to and appease them all.

Prior to their reunion at Wimbledon, an unexpected pair initially encountered each other on the set of Downton Abbey. As Emily Dockery shared with TopMob News, “She happened to be present along with her brother, James, some years back.” They both were enthusiastic admirers of the show.

When the person transitioned to Los Angeles and switched from playing “football” to “soccer,” he made friends with a rap artist. David Beckham featured on Snoop Dogg’s reality program, they engaged in friendly soccer matches and Snoop shared his fresh tunes with David before anyone else. Weirdness: 3/10 (I toned down the weirdness by using more common language and making the sentence flow better.)

The two actors who were once child stars have collaborated on two movies, namely Twilight and The Runaways. However, Dakota asserts that their friendship isn’t rooted in their professional relationship, “When we spend time together, we don’t discuss work-related matters.” Weirdness: 3/10 (Mild)

The two hung out together in the aughts and maintained their friendship over the years.

Despite having contrasting styles in fashion (Anna, I wonder if you’ve ever been adorned with sparkles?), they found common ground at the Oscar de la Renta show’s front row, and Anna managed to get a shout-out in one of Nicki’s rap verses. The oddness factor: 7/10.

Though their fashion sensibilities differ greatly (Anna, have you ever been embellished?), they shared camaraderie during the Oscar de la Renta show and Anna even made an appearance in one of Nicki’s raps. The weirdness quotient: 7/10.

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With their approaches to fashion being poles apart (Anna, have you ever been bedazzled?), they found a shared connection at the Oscar de la Renta show and Anna was mentioned in one of Nicki’s raps. The strangeness level: 7/10.

Fiddy and Bette make an unusual pair, having first met while working for the charity New York Restoration Project. Bette shared her enthusiasm, exclaiming, ‘He’s one of our newest members. His presence has truly enriched my life.'” Weirdness level: 7/10.

Taylor is often referred to herself as an upstanding individual, while Lena isn’t shy about causing a stir. Despite their contrasting personalities, they hold a deep respect for one another. The creator of “Girls” went so far as to call Taylor Swift’s performance the “most life-affirming experience I’ve had.” Strangeness level: 6/10.

For some time now, the actress known for her role in “The King of Queens” has been quite close to Jennifer Lopez, often sharing common interests such as fashion and exchanging affectionate messages on Twitter using the hashtag “#luckybesties.” The level of oddness is relatively low (3/10).

It’s interesting to note that the deity of Goop (a reference to Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand) maintains a friendly relationship with both Jay-Z and Beyoncé, a fact that might catch some people off guard. What might surprise you even more is that Gwyneth herself is quite passionate about rap music, and her children affectionately refer to Jay-Z as “Uncle Jay.” The level of strangeness here is around 5/10.

It’s not common to think that the handsome actor, Brad Pitt, would be friends with the guy from the movie “Superbad,” but consider this: Pitt is known for his pranks (as confirmed by Jonah), and Jonah has now earned an Oscar nomination (for their film “Moneyball). The oddness factor here is approximately 6/10.

At the 2001 Grammy Awards, the contentious rap artist teamed up with Sir Elton John. Later on, Eminem sought help from his newfound friend as he battled addiction, saying to him, “I confided in him, ‘I’m facing a challenge and I need your guidance.'” Weirdness: 5/10 (still maintaining the original context but making it more conversational)

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2025-04-23 03:47