Resurfaced Menendez brothers interview leaves viewers in disbelief after hearing reporter’s question
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
A 1996 interview between Erik and Lyle Menendez and Barbara Walters has resurfaced, infuriating viewers.
Erik and Lyle were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole that same year.
The brothers were aged 18 and 21, respectively.
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They pled guilty to murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in an act they alleged was self-defence.
To this day, having now served 35 years in prison, the Menendez brothers maintain that they were sexually and physically abused by their father, and that their mother knew but failed to act or protect them.
Jose and Kitty, who lived in a Beverly Hills mansion with their sons, were shot and killed at home a total of 16 times.
After a deadlocked trial, an abuse defence was excluded from the second trial - and prosecution alleged the killings were done so to access their family's $14 million fortune.
Currently seeking a habeas corpus appeal, the brothers hope to be set free, with hundreds of thousands of people signing a petition with the same hope.
The release of Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has revived interest in the case, with many people believing that homophobia and the belief that men can't be sexual assault victims hindered their case.
A shocking interview with Barbara Walters has resurfaced in which she asks Erik: "Are you gay?"
Erik has never come out as gay, or queer, and is married to Tammi Menendez.
In the interview, Erik responds: "No.
"The prosecutor brought that up because I was sexually molested and he felt in his own thinking that if I was sodomised by my father that I must have enjoyed it and therefore I must be gay.”
He continued: “And people that are gay out there must be sexually molested or they wouldn’t be. It was upsetting to hear, but I am not gay. But a lot of gay people write and feel connected to me.”
Lyle then added: "A problem at the trial was the gender bias, that because they were dealing with males and an incest family ... there was this perception that maybe it was something that he wanted, something that he allowed to happen."
He added: "I really felt that people might have seen this case very differently if it were a sister that I was protecting."
One person wrote: "These poor boys were not only victimised by their father, but by our justice system as well. So very sad and disappointing."
Another said: "I don’t understand how in the show Eric is portrayed as essentially a gay man while in all the interviews with him he clearly states that he’s not. I know the creator Ryan Murphy is gay and maybe he preferred that narrative? But shouldn’t it stay close to reality? Confusing."
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Netflix, True Crime, US News, Menendez Brothers
Kya Buller