According to his family, O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star who was famously acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend in a highly publicized trial, has passed away after battling cancer.
He was 76 years old.
“He was embraced by his children and grandchildren,” the family stated in a heartfelt message shared on X. “As he embarks on this new journey, his family kindly requests that you honor their desire for privacy and understanding.”
In February, there were reports suggesting that Simpson had prostate cancer and was receiving hospice care while undergoing chemotherapy. However, Simpson refuted these claims in a video he posted on X, clarifying that he was not in hospice. He did not, however, address whether or not he had been diagnosed with cancer.
In the video, he chuckled and exclaimed, “Hospice? Hospice? You talking about hospice?” He dismissed the rumors, stating that he was unaware of their origin.
Orenthal James Simpson, also known as “The Juice” to his fans, had a successful 11-season career in the National Football League. However, his sports legacy was forever tarnished in the 1990s following the tragic murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Once a celebrated athlete, Simpson transitioned from being an iconic figure in the Hall of Fame to becoming a suspect in a murder case.
Days later, officials brought charges against Simpson for the murders, and he tried to avoid being arrested. This led to a well-known police chase that lasted for hours, as he drove his white Ford Bronco along the highways of Southern California.
In 1995, Simpson’s case went to trial and captivated millions of viewers nationwide. The court proceedings, famously known as the “trial of the century,” unfolded over several months, turning into a sensational public spectacle.
Opinions about the trial have been varied over time, with some people accusing the Los Angeles Police Department of racism in their handling of the case. On the other hand, there are those who think that Simpson’s access to highly skilled lawyers enabled him to escape punishment for the crime.
The trial turned prosecutors Christopher Darden and Marcia Clark into well-known figures, along with Simpson’s defense attorneys Johnnie Cochran, Alan Dershowitz, and Robert Kardashian.
In a verdict that sparked controversy, he was cleared of both murder charges. However, two years later, he was held accountable for wrongful death in the civil lawsuit related to the double homicide case.
“It’s just another reminder of Ron’s absence all these years,” he expressed. “It’s not a significant loss to the world. It simply serves as a further reminder that Ron is no longer with us.”
In 2019, Simpson had a conversation with The Associated Press over the phone. During the conversation, he expressed his contentment and good health while residing in Las Vegas. Despite maintaining his belief that his conviction for robbery was unjust, Simpson emphasized his respect for the legal system and his compliance with the consequences by stating, “I believe in the legal system and I honored it. I served my time.”
The Simpson murder trial was brought back to life and reexamined years later in FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” a captivating installment of the network’s beloved “American Crime Story” series in 2016. In that very same year, the Academy Award-winning documentary “O.J.: Made in America” was released, chronicling Simpson’s remarkable journey and subsequent downfall.
O.J. Simpson was born and raised in San Francisco. He grew up in public housing and attended a local community college before transferring to the University of Southern California. During his time at USC, he played a pivotal role in the school’s national championship win in 1967. The following year, he received the prestigious Heisman Trophy for his outstanding performance.
In 1969, the Buffalo Bills selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Simpson holds the distinction of being the first player in the league to achieve the impressive feat of rushing for 2,000 or more yards in a single season. Widely regarded as the greatest running back of his time, his accomplishments on the field are unmatched.
Simpson had three children from his first marriage to Marguerite Whitley, one of whom tragically passed away as a toddler due to a drowning accident.
He also had two children with Brown Simpson.
After the tragic murder of his ex-wife, Simpson was granted custody of their children and relocated to Miami with them. The ensuing custody battle with his former in-laws garnered significant attention, as the grandparents took him to court in a highly contentious legal dispute.