Kim Kardashian is calling on the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office to “right the wrong they did” to the Menendez brothers, after the convicted siblings were granted a hearing on Nov. 29 to review new evidence.
Kardashian, who visited the brothers in prison along with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story star Cooper Koch, said Ryan Murphy‘s new Netflix series opened her eyes to the realities of the case.
“I think that they never got a fair second trial and I feel like ever since, for me, watching Ryan Murphy’s Monsters show it really opened up and showed me so much about abuse,” she recently told Variety at the Academy Museum Gala. “Imagine if no one believed you.”
She added, “The DA’s office really should right the wrong that they did many years ago. It doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have done time. It just means that I really believe that they deserve a second chance and they’ve done enough time.”
Erik and Lyle were sentenced to life without parole in 1996 after being convicted for the 1986 murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. The brothers claimed the murder occurred after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father.
“The sentence that they’ve had, they’ve been in it for almost 35 years. That’s more than a first-degree murder charge,” Kardashian said. “I am someone who believes in second chances and I really believe in them.”
Kardashian penned an essay for NBC News following her meeting with the brothers at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. In her essay, she noted that “much of the abuse evidence was deemed inadmissible” during their second trial, “depriving the jurors of crucial evidence.”
Though she recently praised Murphy’s Netflix series, her personal essay called out how the brothers were “sensationalized” in media during the time of their case. “Erik and Lyle’s case became entertainment for the nation… There was no room for empathy, let alone sympathy,” she wrote.
Koch, who played Lyle in Monsters, also said he was “really excited” that the brothers may have a chance of being released. But he expressed that he is not interested in reprising the role if given the opportunity to film bonus episodes following their possible release.
“I think we told the story. We did it,” he told Variety. “I think I’m ready to go onto the next thing. I’ve loved talking about it and I’ve loved advocating for them and I’m really excited for them to get out hopefully, but in terms of being Erik again, I think I’m ready to let that go.”
Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Brothers has faced criticism for how it depicted the brothers and the abuse they faced. Erik and Lyle have even labeled the show “disheartening slander.”
But Murphy appears to be in favor of the brothers receiving a new hearing. “Like [Kim Kardashian], I don’t think anyone should be thrown away forever,” he said. “But I know not everyone thinks that. It’s complicated.”