The Menendez brothers, who killed their parents in a 1989 Beverly Hills living room ambush with shotguns, have a new shot at freedom after the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office recommended reduced sentences for them. They had been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole since their convictions in the 1990s, but a shift in public awareness of how sex abuse impacts male victims, renewed scrutiny from documentaries and TV dramatizations, and purported new evidence in the case all played a role in the district attorney’s decision. Pop culture expert Perez Hilton believes that the brothers will have a chance to monetize their story and set themselves up financially for the rest of their lives.
Perez predicts that the brothers will have a team of professionals helping them, such as agents, managers, and publicists, who will guide them through the process of telling their stories and capitalizing on their newfound freedom. However, he also warns that the intense public interest in their case may lead to close scrutiny from paparazzi, with photographers and videographers following them wherever they go. Additionally, he predicts that at least one brother may end up getting divorced due to the sudden change in circumstances and the attention they will receive from women on social media.
The recent attention brought to the Menendez brothers’ case by streaming docuseries has generated a lot of support for them, potentially leading to book deals, production contracts, and financial gains. However, Hilton warns that not all people will continue to support them, especially if they start spending their money on extravagant purchases like multimillion-dollar homes or flashy cars. Despite the potential backlash, the brothers can argue that they were victims too, unlike other disgraced Los Angeles residents like OJ Simpson, Harvey Weinstein, and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
If Los Angeles Judge William Ryan agrees with the reduced sentencing recommendation, the Menendez brothers will become eligible for parole. However, they will still need approval from the parole board and the governor before they can be released from prison. Overall, the brothers’ future post-release remains uncertain, with various possibilities for them to explore, such as telling their story, facing public scrutiny and backlash, potentially getting divorced, and navigating the challenges of reentering society after decades behind bars.
