Dual Lawsuits Accuse and Deny Jose Menendez’s Alleged Sexual Assaults of Menudo Members

by

Two lawsuits filed this week provide conflicting accounts regarding the involvement of the former manager of the ’80s boy band Menudo in alleged sexual assault cases involving a former member, Roy Rosselló. One lawsuit asserts that the manager repeatedly sexually assaulted Rosselló and passed him on to others, including José Menendez. The other lawsuit, however, denies these claims, stating they are false, despite being made for over a decade and gaining renewed attention through a 2023 documentary on Peacock.

On Thursday, a civil lawsuit was brought forth in a New York federal court by Rosselló. In this suit, he accuses Edgardo Díaz, the Latin boy band’s founder and long-term manager, of sexually abusing him for three years during his time with the band. The allegations include sexual assault, emotional manipulation, and human trafficking that occurred across various countries such as the U.S., Brazil, Puerto Rico, and numerous international locations between 1983 and 1986.

In a 17-page legal document submitted under the Protection Law for Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence, Rosselló provides a thorough narrative, aligning dates with verifiable details of Menudo’s concerts and TV appearances on shows like The Merv Griffin Show, American Bandstand, and Sesame Street. This account spans the years he claims he was repeatedly assaulted by Díaz and others, most significantly José Menendez, then-CEO of RCA Records who signed Menudo to a $30 million contract. Menendez is alleged to have shown unusual interest in the group, attending performances as far away as Brazil and inviting band members to his New Jersey home for barbecues. According to the complaint, it was Díaz who arranged these meetings, which took place at Menendez’s New Jersey residence, a New York hotel after a Menudo performance at Radio City Music Hall, and in Brazil when Diaz was present.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter this week, author Robert Rand shared that Erik Menendez mentioned incidents at their Princeton barbecues in New Jersey where Jose would frequently excuse himself to have private conversations with members of the group Menudo.

The original charges against the deceased Menendez matriarch’s husband, who along with his wife, Kitty, was fatally shot in their Beverly Hills residence by their sons in 1989 as depicted in the 2023 Peacock docuseries titled “Menendez and Menudo: Boys Betrayed“, have been expanded upon. Rosselló, who originally accused José Menendez in this series, has now disclosed that he was a victim of repeated sexual assaults by Menendez, incidents which occurred across various countries, not just the single encounter initially described in the series.

In ongoing legal matters in Los Angeles, a potential jury trial could strengthen the evidence for the Menendez brothers as they aim for their release. Their second joint trial ended in 1996 when the court barred any discussion or proof regarding their father’s alleged sexual abuse against them. This ruling crippled their defense strategy and resulted in their conviction, receiving life sentences without the chance of parole.

30 years after the infamous Menendez brothers’ case, a new piece of evidence has caught my attention as a gamer following this story. Rosselló’s claim, combined with a letter penned by Erik Menendez to his cousin prior to the murders, found by Rand, sheds light on Erik’s allegations of ongoing abuse by their father. This revelation seems to be shifting public perception towards reconsidering the defense case for the brothers once more.

Back in 2014, Rosselló publicly accused Diaz of attacking him during an appearance on a Brazilian reality show. However, Diaz, who is currently 77 years old, has consistently refuted all allegations of molestation that have been made against him. In 1994, just three years after being implicated by former members of Menudo for sexual abuse, Diaz filed for bankruptcy. Ralphy Rodriguez was the main accuser in this case. More recently, in 2023, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into Diaz based on Rosselló’s allegations that he sexually assaulted a former Menudo member at the Biltmore Hotel in the 1980s, as reported in a police document.

The docuseries titled “Menendez and Menudo: Boys Betrayed,” where Gov. Rosselló initially accused José Menendez of sexual assault, is at the heart of another lawsuit recently filed. This legal action not only focuses on Menendez but also delves into matters relevant to the Menendez trial. Moreover, the plaintiff has introduced new allegations concerning the evidence that has recently rekindled nationwide interest in the brothers’ case.

Earlier this week, a grievance was submitted by Darrin McGillis, the proprietor of multiple Menudo songs, who is now charging NBCUniversal with libel and slander. He alleges that they intentionally broadcast falsehoods about Menudo in the “Boys Betrayed” docuseries, which predominantly focused on Rosselló and explored Menudo’s relationship with José Menendez. This series served as a means for Rosselló to initially accuse the older Menendez of rape, an act he committed while serving as president of RCA Records. This accusation has had subsequent repercussions, contributing significantly to the ongoing legal battle between Lyle and Erik Menendez as they strive to regain their freedom.

In the lawsuit McGillis personally filed without legal representation, he alleges that NBC knowingly used fabricated statements and paid Rosselló a significant sum of money to link Menudo with labels such as “scandalous,” “false,” and “defamatory” like “sexual,” “molestation,” “gay,” and “homosexual.” Interestingly, no member of Menudo who was contracted has ever filed a civil lawsuit against Diaz (contrary to Rosselló’s case). McGillis asserts that the docuseries harmed his business; he requests the court to order NBC/Universal to pay him $500 million in punitive damages.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, McGillis firmly denied Rosselló’s claims that he was molested by Diaz and stated that Diaz is not a friend of his. McGillis also mentioned that he and Diaz have had past disagreements over the rights to Menudo, and McGillis believes that Rosselló has been driven by financial gain since his career has struggled. According to McGillis, Rosselló was paid by the producers of Boys Betrayed to fabricate stories about Menendez in the docuseries.

McGillis additionally states that he was invited to feature in the show “Boys Betrayed” by Rand, who was a producer of the program, and was asked by Rand to fabricate stories about Menudo members being abused. In his lawsuit, he alleges that Rand orchestrated a “complicated, multi-step scheme” aimed at acquitting the Menendez brothers. This included, according to McGillis, a staged interview with former Menudo member Ricky Martin, during which Rand claimed Martin told him that Menendez had inappropriately touched Martin on their way to Disney World. McGillis subsequently relayed this tale to the “Globe” tabloid, which published it as a front-page story, leaving McGillis feeling deceived.

McGillis expressed his intent to file a lawsuit over the phone with THR, stating that he aims to uncover the truth about Rosselló’s alleged falsehoods and make all relevant facts concerning the Menendez brothers’ case accessible to courts, their family, and the public as they navigate the legal process to regain their freedom. During their conversation on Friday, McGillis also claimed that Rand admitted to him privately that he forged the second key piece of evidence presented in the Menendez case – a letter attributed to Erik, which Rand found in his late cousin’s desk during reporting on the story.

McGillis shared with THR that Rand had mentioned to him about a letter – how he managed to enter the house and the woman allowed it. Thus, he had unrestricted access. And lo and behold, I discovered a letter… It’s unclear if I found it there or not. In essence, what Rand was saying was that he hid this letter.

McGillis told THR about what Rand informed him – a letter that Rand gained entry to the house and the woman permitted. This meant he could freely come and go. And surprise! I stumbled upon a letter… It’s uncertain if it was there or not when I found it. In essence, Rand was suggesting he planted this letter.

On Friday, Rand shared with THR that he never provided any financial incentive for McGillis to feature in Boys Betrayed, and found it amusing to think that the letter written by Erik Menendez to his cousin was falsified or that he would discuss such matters with McGillis.

Rand stated in March 2018, during a visit to José Menendez’s sister’s house, that the letter was genuine. He mentioned that producers of ‘Boys Betrayed’ also conversed with other former Menudo members regarding instances of molestation, but Rosselló was the only one who agreed to appear on camera and discuss it.

As a gamer, I shared crucial details, including this one, with ex-LA District Attorney George Gascón’s office, hoping for justice. I was reassured that they took it seriously, but I couldn’t help feeling taken aback when I saw them working diligently to arrange a resentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers.

McGillis chose to promptly file the lawsuit personally, without involving a lawyer or law firm, due to a sense of immediate importance, as the Menendez case appears to be progressing steadily.

He emphasized the importance of sharing the information, regardless of its perceived significance in court. He admitted he wasn’t sure if everything included had any value at all to others, but felt that it was essential to share because it represented the truth. In essence, he suggested taking whatever insight might be gained from it and using it to make informed decisions about various matters. Essentially, he was simply conveying what he knew, without further elaboration.

The Menendez brothers’ next court date for their potential resentencing will take place on May 9.

Read More

2025-05-03 00:25