The Life of OJ Simpson
Who was O.J. Simpson? Orenthal James Simpson was born July 9, 1947, in San Francisco. He was the star running back for the USC Trojans. Playing 11 seasons of NFL football, he set multiple NCAA records, won a Heisman trophy, and retired in 1979. Before getting drafted into college football, he married his first wife, Marguerite Whitney in 1967 when they were teenagers. He went on to have his first 3 kids with her, Arnelle Simson, Jason Simson, and Aaren Simson. Unfortunately, Aaren drowned at 23 months old in a swimming pool. And then in 1979 O.J. and Marguerite divorced. In February of 2024, Simpson was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He recently passed away on April 11, 2023. Two months before his death he assured his fans that he was in “good health” despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer through a video. In the video, he said he was “just about over it” and “should be back on the gold course soon.” He unfortunately passed away on April 11, 2024.
O.J. met Nicole Brown in 1977 and they eloped in 1985, five years after retiring from football. They stayed married for 7 years and had 2 kids Sydney Brooke and Justin Ryan. O.J. and Nicole divorced in 1992, just before Nicole would be murdered outside her home in Los Angeles in 1994.
On the night of June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman were stabbed to death outside her home. Quickly, Simpson became the police's main suspect. He was aware of the impending charges against him and instead of going to a police station, on June 17 he hid in the back of a sport-utility vehicle driven by his friend, A.C. Cowlings. Police were alerted that Simpson was holding a gun to his head, and they followed at a low speed for around an hour. This attempted “escape” was broadcast on live TV with 95 million people watching and hundreds of fans of Simpson lining the streets. The chase stopped at Simpson’s home in Brentwood where he was taken into custody. The trial started on January 24, 1995, with Simpson pleading not guilty. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office emphasized that domestic violence that occurred before their divorce was a motive for murder. Simpson’s defense was largely based on evidence being mishandled and many members of the Los Angeles police being racist.
On October 2, 1995, the jury started deliberating and reached a verdict in four hours. They announced their decision on October 3rd. They said that Simpson was not guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. Polls of the public opinion broke around racial lines. Most people saw the charges as discrimination against black people. This is still debated today.
He was later sued by the victims’ families for wrongful death. The civil trial for these charges began in October of 1996. Only four months later he was found responsible for Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman's death. Their families were awarded 33.5 million dollars. After the verdict, the talent agency that had represented him for 20 years and his agent dropped him as a client. A sign outside Sunset Boulevard, his home, read “Welcome to Brentwood. Home of the Brentwood butcher” and “Murderer loose in Brentwood.” He eventually moved to a secluded residence in a canyon near Malibu to escape the media and have more privacy.
This case is significant because of the amount of people that followed the case and the attention it brought to the issue of race impacting court cases. During Simpson's infamous car chase in his white Bronco under highway overpasses, 95 million people watched the chase on live television. Because of Simpson’s football career, he was a well-known icon in the US. Consequently, everyone involved in this case was constantly being followed by reporters. Even after Simpson’s death, he remains a symbol of racial division because he is a reminder of how inequality can impact people. Like his trial, the public's reaction to the verdict is largely shaped by race. It should be noted that contemporary criminal justice reforms targeting racial inequities exhibit less diversity. This has been replaced by the backlash against diversity, inclusion programs, and restriction of teaching black history in schools. While the ethical issues of race in court cases have improved, there is still room for growth. O.J. Simpson's death is a reminder to be aware of these issues in the court and police system.
By Sophie Balmes