Notorious killer brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez grin widely on their most recent mugshots from jail in California.

Kim Kardashian Told Not To Get Involved After Her Free The Menendez Brothers Post

Home / News / Kim Kardashian Told Not To Get Involved After Her Free The Menendez Brothers Post

By Afouda Bamidele on October 4, 2024 at 5:15 PM EDT

Kim Kardashian's efforts to reform the criminal justice and prison system continue with a plea for the infamous Menendez brothers.

The reality TV queen recently penned an emotional essay asking for Lyle and Erik Menendez's freedom. The brothers were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989 and were incarcerated without parole.

Kim Kardashian argued that the Menendez Brothers have paid the price for their crimes and hopes they receive leniency, given the alleged abuse they suffered at their parents' hands. However, her message did not resonate with some fans.

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Kim Kardashian Says 'It's Time For The Menendez Brothers To Be Freed'

Kim Kardashian at 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party - Arrivals
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In a recent Instagram post, Kardashian doubled down on pleading for the Menendez brothers' release from prison. She echoed similar sentiments from her essay to NBC News, writing:

"It's time for the Menendez brothers to be freed. 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. I know I'm not!" Kardashian continued, noting fans should not judge the brothers without understanding their story.

She seemingly highlighted the alleged abuse Lyle and Erik suffered from at their parents' hands, adding, "You think you know the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez. I certainly thought I did."

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Fans Implore Kardashian To Stand Down

Although Kardashian was not new to advocating for prisoners, her take on the infamous Menendez siblings did not sit right with some of her fans. These critics advised her to reconsider her plea, with one writing:

"Uhhhh.... they blew their parents away to smithereens. Come on.. abuse or not. They plotted and killed in cold blood."

"I don't agree. Killing anyone, whether abused or not, is unacceptable. We all have a choice as human beings," another pointed out, while a third added: "Kimberly, don't get involved with this. This isn't what you think."

Other IG users questioned Kardashian's advocacy, noting she should have helped the late Marcellus Williams. He was executed by lethal injection on September 24 despite his death being opposed by many over claims of his innocence.

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"Marcellus Williams needed this platform too," someone lamented, with a like-minded fan echoing similar sentiments, asking: "Kimberly, where was this energy for Marcellus Williams?"

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The Infamous Menendez Brothers Went Shopping After Killing Their Parents

The Menendez brothers killed their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in the TV room of their $5 million Beverly Hills, California, mansion on August 20, 1989. The late couple were brutally murdered with shotguns, leaving behind a blood-splattered crime scene.

Despite the gruesome nature of their crime at 21 and 18, Lyle and Erik seemed unfazed by going on a shopping spree. A jewelry saleswoman testified during their trial that the brothers spent $15,000 on three Rolex watches just days after killing their parents.

Their extravagant list continued with Lyle purchasing a $64,000 Porsche Carrera while Erik opted for a new Jeep Wrangler. PEOPLE shared that Lyle also placed a $300,000 deposit on a $500,000 restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey.

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The Brothers Claim They Did Not Kill Their Parents For Money

The Menendez brothers faced scrutiny for their shopping spree during their trial, with prosecutors arguing their crimes stemmed from greed. However, Lyle and Erik vehemently denied killing their parents for money.

They shed light on their behavior in the upcoming Netflix documentary "The Menendez Brothers," noting they were more heartbroken than happy. In a recorded phone call from prison, Erik claimed:

"The idea that I was having a good time is absurd. Everything was to cover up this horrible pain of not wanting to be alive."

Lyle echoed similar sentiments, stressing, "I was not enjoying myself as a playboy, that I was actually sobbing a lot at night, sleeping poorly, very distraught at times, and kind of adrift throughout this, all those months."

Inside The Upcoming Netflix Documentary 'The Menendez Brothers'

During their trial, the infamous siblings revealed that they did not kill their parents because of money. Instead, they were forced to pull the trigger because of their father's years-long sexual abuse.

The brothers claimed their mother was an accomplice for ignoring their father's abuse. The upcoming Netflix documentary shall shed more light on these allegations and how the murders plague Lyle and Erik to date.

The Menendez brothers were convicted in March 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. They are currently incarcerated at California's Donovan Correctional Facility.

Netflix's "The Menendez Brothers" will air on Monday, October 7.

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