According to his family, O.J. Simpson, the former football legend who was accused of and later acquitted for the brutal 1994 murders of his ex-wife and her friend, has passed away at the age of 76.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, lost his fight against cancer. He passed away in the presence of his children and grandchildren. In this period of change, his family kindly requests that you honor their need for privacy and understanding,” stated his family.
In May 2023, Simpson took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a video, where he disclosed his recent battle with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. He expressed optimism, stating, “It appears that I have overcome it.” However, Simpson did not provide specific details regarding the type of cancer he had encountered.
In February 2024, there were reports from a Las Vegas television station stating that Simpson was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. Simpson himself addressed the rumors in a video on X, clarifying that he was not in hospice care. However, he did not confirm or deny the reports about his illness. In a subsequent video update on X, Simpson expressed gratitude towards those who had supported him and mentioned that he was in good health, despite dealing with some ongoing issues that he believed were almost resolved.
Five days after the killings, about 95 million Americans witnessed the captivating event unfold before their eyes. It was a scene like no other, as Simpson’s white Ford Bronco took to the streets of Los Angeles. With his longtime friend Al Cowlings behind the wheel and Simpson in the back seat, gripping a handgun and contemplating taking his own life, the police were left in pursuit for a staggering 60 miles. The entire chase was broadcasted live on television, capturing the attention and curiosity of the nation for approximately two long hours.
Simpson eventually turned himself in to the police and faced trial for the murders. In October 1995, after a lengthy 11-month trial that captivated audiences worldwide with daily televised coverage, Simpson was acquitted.
In September 2007, after twelve years, Simpson found himself under arrest. He had led a group of men into a Las Vegas hotel and casino, claiming that the sports memorabilia they were stealing at gunpoint belonged to him. Simpson faced charges for various felonies, including kidnapping and armed robbery. The following year, he was convicted and received a prison sentence of up to 33 years. However, Simpson was granted parole on October 1, 2017, and was released from prison.
Simpson’s legacy lives on through his four children: Arnelle and Jason from his first marriage, and Sydney and Justin from his marriage to Nicole Brown Simpson.
In a heartfelt video statement shared on X, he expressed, “Nicole was a shining beacon of light that radiated with brilliance. Let us always remember her.”
A football hero
According to ESPN, despite having been affected by rickets in infancy, Simpson developed a deep passion for sports during his childhood. In 1967, he enrolled at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and married his high school sweetheart, Marguerite Whitley, in the same year. Together, they went on to have three children.
During his time at USC, Simpson excelled as a running back and emerged as the top rusher in college football. He left a lasting impact on the sport, setting an impressive 13 college football records and earning the prestigious 1968 Heisman Trophy.
The young and captivating star athlete’s television career skyrocketed. Shortly after winning the Heisman, Simpson inked a television deal with ABC Sports. In the subsequent year, he became the first overall pick in the 1969 draft, securing a groundbreaking five-year contract worth $650,000 with the Buffalo Bills. Simpson’s remarkable achievements continued to flourish as he notched an NFL-record of 23 touchdowns in a single season by 1973. Additionally, he shattered the record for the most rushing yards in both a single game, amassing an impressive 250 yards, and a season, reaching an unprecedented 2,003 yards.
Simpson’s exceptional football skills catapulted him into stardom not only on the field but also off it. In 1975, Hertz made history by signing Simpson as the first Black man to be part of a major national corporate advertising campaign. The iconic commercials featured Simpson, dressed in a sharp business suit, flashing his signature smile as he effortlessly sprinted through airports and gracefully leaped over obstacles to reach his rental car. The tremendous success of this campaign paved the way for other corporations to approach Simpson for endorsement deals, significantly boosting his financial status and elevating his public profile.
The San Francisco 49ers acquired Simpson from the Buffalo Bills before the start of the 1978 season. This trade led Simpson to relocate with his family to the West Coast. However, due to physical issues, Simpson made the decision to retire from professional football after two seasons with the 49ers. It’s worth noting that at the time of his retirement, Simpson was the highest-paid player in the NFL.
During his professional football career, Simpson showcased his acting abilities by taking on roles in various TV shows and films. He made notable appearances in the TV miniseries “Roots,” as well as movies like “The Towering Inferno” and “Capricorn One.” As he transitioned out of the NFL, Simpson established his own production company and fully immersed himself in the entertainment industry. Alongside his acting endeavors, he became a familiar face in the “Naked Gun” film comedy series and also ventured into television as a football commentator.
Meeting Nicole Brown
When Simpson was still married to Marguerite, he crossed paths with Nicole Brown, who was working as a nightclub waitress in Beverly Hills at the time. This happened in 1977, the very year Simpson and Marguerite welcomed their daughter, Aaren, and settled into a Tudor-style mansion in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood. Unfortunately, tragedy struck two years later when Aaren passed away in the family’s swimming pool. It was around this same time that Simpson and Marguerite officially divorced, and Nicole Brown entered the picture.
Simpson and Brown tied the knot in 1985, and their union brought forth two children. Unfortunately, their marriage was plagued by allegations of physical abuse inflicted by Simpson upon his wife. In 1989, Simpson was arrested for assaulting her, during which he allegedly made death threats. He pleaded no contest to the charges and received a sentence of probation, counseling, and community service. Despite their efforts to reconcile, Nicole Brown Simpson eventually filed for divorce, which was ultimately granted in 1992.
‘Trial of the Century’
On the evening of June 12, 1994, following a pleasant dinner at Mezzaluna, a beloved Los Angeles restaurant, Brown Simpson and her family made their way back to her condominium on Bundy Drive in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood, as stated in court records. Sometime later that night, Ron Goldman, a 25-year-old waiter at Mezzaluna, decided to drive over to Brown Simpson’s home to return the eyeglasses her mother had accidentally left behind at the restaurant.
According to court records, Simpson was in Los Angeles that evening but decided to take a late flight to Chicago. Upon his return to Los Angeles the following day, he was interviewed by the police but was not arrested right away.
On June 17, 1994, prosecutors issued an order for Simpson to turn himself in and face charges for the murders of Brown Simpson and Goldman. However, instead of surrendering, he chose to flee in a Ford Bronco with Cowlings by his side. This led to a slow-speed chase that lasted for approximately two hours, causing traffic to come to a halt on Southern California freeways. The entire event was broadcasted live and was watched by an estimated 95 million Americans.
News helicopters buzzed overhead, capturing every moment of the chase, while residents of Los Angeles rushed out of their houses and gathered along highways and overpasses to witness the unfolding spectacle. Eventually, Simpson gave up and was arrested. When he appeared in court, he vehemently declared his innocence, stating, “I am absolutely, positively, 100 percent not guilty” to all the charges.
Simpson’s trial in 1995, known as the “trial of the century,” captivated audiences worldwide. The personal lives of everyone involved, from witnesses and lawyers to the judge, became just as much of a spectacle as the trial itself. The trial was highly controversial and fueled racial tensions, starting from the moment the jury was selected in November 1994, all the way to the verdict announcement in October 1995.
During the trial, there was a particularly memorable moment when prosecutors asked Simpson to put on a pair of black leather gloves in front of the jury and a worldwide television audience. One glove had been discovered at the crime scene, while the other was found at Simpson’s home. Unfortunately, the gloves didn’t seem to fit properly, which the prosecution later attributed to the shrinkage caused by them being soaked in blood. However, when Simpson struggled to put on the gloves, defense attorney Johnnie Cochran delivered the trial’s most memorable statement during his closing argument: “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
In a historic moment on October 3, 1995, an astounding 150 million individuals tuned in as the verdict was announced, declaring Simpson innocent of the murders. After his acquittal, Simpson made a public commitment to dedicate the remainder of his life to uncovering the true identity of what he referred to as the “real” perpetrator or perpetrators.
Despite being acquitted, Simpson experienced a rapid decline in his social status. He was abandoned by his longtime agents and lost endorsement deals from various corporations. Simpson’s credibility and earning potential plummeted in a short span of time. As a result, he relocated from Los Angeles to Miami, Florida in 2000.
In the aftermath of being cleared of criminal charges, Simpson faced a civil suit filed by the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Nicole’s family accused him of battery, while Ron’s family accused him of battery and wrongful death. The civil trial, unlike the criminal trial, was not televised, spanning three months and concluding in February 1997. The jury unanimously held Simpson responsible for the allegations made against him.
Simpson had been instructed to pay a combined sum of $21 million to the Goldman family and $12.5 million to the Brown family, resulting in a total of $33.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Unfortunately, despite their relentless pursuit, the families were only able to recover a small portion of the damages awarded by the jury.
In 2006, a book titled “If I Did It” was published. The book, which was ghostwritten and described as a “hypothetical” confession, was based on interviews with Simpson. It was planned to be released alongside a TV special featuring Simpson. However, due to extensive backlash, the special was cancelled. The family of Ron Goldman, who was pursuing unpaid monetary damages from Simpson’s civil trial, was awarded the rights to the book. They decided to retitle and publish it as “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.”
“In our relentless pursuit of justice for Ron and Nicole over the span of three decades, we have encountered numerous obstacles. Despite securing a civil judgment against O.J. Simpson and his confession in ‘If I Did It,’ we now acknowledge that our hopes for true accountability have come to an end,” expressed Kim Goldman and Fred Goldman, speaking together in a joint statement.
Conviction for robbery and kidnapping
On the night of September 13, 2007, Simpson took charge and led a group of men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, into a Las Vegas hotel room. Their objective was to retrieve what Simpson believed to be stolen sports memorabilia. However, this act led to his arrest just three days later. Subsequently, he was faced with 12 felony counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery. Following a trial that lasted less than a month, Simpson was found guilty of all charges on October 3, 2008. It is worth noting that this date coincided with the 13th anniversary of his acquittal in the Los Angeles double murder trial.
“In a previous instance during the bail hearing, I recall expressing uncertainty as to whether Mr. Simpson’s demeanor stemmed from arrogance, ignorance, or perhaps both,” remarked Judge Jackie Glass of the Clark County District Court during the subsequent sentencing in December. “However, as the trial unfolded and this proceeding progressed, I obtained my answer, and it became evident that it was indeed a combination of both factors.”
Simpson received a prison sentence of up to 33 years.
A free man
In July 2017, parole was granted to Simpson. He reassured the parole board of his commitment to fulfilling the conditions of his parole.
“I never led a criminal life,” he stated confidently. “I’ve always been a good person, but I know I could have been a better Christian. My determination now is to improve my faith and become a more devoted Christian.”
“I’ve had my fair share of fidelity issues in the past, but I’ve always been someone who could easily get along with just about anyone,” Simpson shared.
In October 1, 2017, Simpson, who was 70 years old at the time, was released from Nevada’s Lovelock Correctional Institute, marking his newfound freedom. He relocated from Miami to Las Vegas, where he embraced a lifestyle centered around golf, spending time with friends, and actively engaging on social media platforms.
In a letter read by Simpson’s lawyers in 1994, as he evaded police during the infamous Bronco chase, Simpson expressed contentment with the life he had led up until that moment.
“I have lived a fulfilling life, and I take great pride in the way I conducted myself. My mother instilled in me the values of treating others with kindness and compassion, and I made it a point to extend the same treatment to everyone I encountered,” shared Simpson, as stated by his legal representatives.
