O.J. Simpson Has Died, His Family Confirms
O.J. Simpson died on Wednesday, April 10.
His family confirmed the news of his passing in a statement on his official X (formerly Twiter) account.
The statement read:
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
He Was Tried For Murdering His Ex-Wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, But Acquitted
Simpson rose to fame as an all-star football player in college and later, the NFL. He played for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers.
Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
After football, O.J. went on to serve as a sports commentator. He also pursued an acting career and was known for his role in the Naked Gun trilogy.
Then, O.J.’s life took a drastically different turn. On June 12, 1994, the bodies of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were discovered outside of her condo in Los Angeles.
In memory of Nicole and Ron.
Nicole Brown Simpson
Ron Goldman pic.twitter.com/NuVKgr5htx— Rebecca (@myfabulousfind1) April 11, 2024
O.J. became a person of interest in the crime.
Five days after Nicole and Ronald’s bodies were discovered, he infamously led police on a chase in his white Ford Bronco. ESPN reports an estimated audience of 95 million people tuned in to watch the chase live.
O.J. was eventually arrested and charged with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The dramatic trial that followed is often called “The Trial of the Century.”
The jury found O.J. not guilty of either murder, and he was acquitted. However, a jury found him liable for Nicole and Ron’s deaths during a civil trial in 1997. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million to Nicole and Ron’s families.
In 2007, O.J. led a group of men into a Las Vegas hotel to steal sports memorabilia, which he claimed to be his own. O.J. was sentenced to 33 years in prison on multiple felony counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery.
He was released on parole in October 2017 and was discharged from parole in 2021.
O.J. Simpson was 76 years old when he died.