No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsO.J. Simpson, Acquitted in "Trial of the Century," Dies

O.J. Simpson, Acquitted in “Trial of the Century,” Dies

O.J. Simpson, the American football star whose 1995 acquittal in the so-called “trial of the century” for the murder of his ex-wife and a male friend gripped the world, has died at the age of 76.

Once a beloved national figure, his fame turned to infamy after the savage killing of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in a suburb of Los Angeles.

The televised police chase to apprehend Simpson, and the extraordinary subsequent trial featuring high-octane lawyers and allegations of racism, were watched by millions on television.

His acquittal in October 1995 after nine months in court was greeted with disbelief by many Americans who had followed every twist and turn in the arguments over details as intricate as whether a pair of gloves really fitted the former athlete’s hands.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” a message signed by the family said Thursday on social media site X.

“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 had reportedly been battling prostate cancer.

Elite athlete

Simpson grew up in poverty and ill health but developed into an elite athlete, rising rapidly to stardom first as a college football player and then in the National Football League, where he won the 1973 Most Valuable Player award.

His popularity only grew with a post-NFL career as an actor and an ad pitchman, where his appearances promoting everything from orange juice to car rentals made him one of the most recognizable Black faces in the country.

His work with Hertz in particular, where he was shown sprinting through airports while wearing a three-piece suit, became part of pop culture folklore.

That all came to an abrupt end on June 12, 1994 when Brown Simpson, 35, and waiter Goldman, 25, were found stabbed to death outside her home.

Public views on whether Simpson was guilty or innocent of murder divided sharply along racial lines.

And although allowed to walk free, there was no happy next chapter for “O.J.” — or “The Juice,” as he was known.

Simpson was subsequently found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil suit and was ordered to pay damages totaling $33.5 million to the families of the victims.

Fred Goldman, Ronald’s father, spoke to NBC News by phone Thursday and described Simpson’s death as “no great loss.”

“The only thing I have to say is it’s just further reminder of Ron being gone all these years,” he said.

Simpson also served nearly nine years in prison for a bungled armed robbery, before a parole board in the western state of Nevada approved his release in 2017.

Dismissed health concerns

But the public’s fascination never waned. “O.J.: Made in America,” a nearly eight-hour documentary about his murder trial, won the best documentary Oscar in 2017.

And “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” a television mini-series starring Cuba Gooding Jr as the athlete, won multiple Emmy awards in 2016. On February 9 this year, Simpson posted a video on X dismissing reports that he was in hospice care.

“You talking about hospice?!” he said laughing. “No, I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who put that out there.” Two days later, he posted his last X video. “My health is good. I mean, obviously I’m dealing with some issues,” he said.

“But I think I’m just about over it and I’ll be back on that golf course hopefully in a couple of weeks.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica Tops Latin America in Attracting Foreign Millionaires

Costa Rica is a country that attracts millionaires. Projections indicate that by the end of 2025, a total of 350 foreign millionaires will have...

El Salvador at Center of Controversial U.S.-Venezuela Detainee Exchange

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele received the 10 Americans exchanged on Friday between Washington and Caracas for 252 Venezuelans who had spent four months in...

Why Birders Are Flocking to Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica is a bird-watching paradise, offering an incredible diversity with close to 900 recorded species, including resident and migratory species. One reason for...

Starbucks Expands in Guanacaste with New Store Opening in Tamarindo

Starbucks continues to strengthen its presence in Costa Rica with the opening of its second store in the province of Guanacaste, specifically in Tamarindo....

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...

Costa Rica Fails to Meet Human Rights Standards for Deportees

The Ombudsman's Office has confirmed that Costa Rica was unprepared to provide adequate care for deportees who have entered the country since February. This...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica