O.J. Simpson, the former football great who faced accusations and was ultimately acquitted of the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, has died at age 76, his family confirmed.
“On April 10th, Orenthal James Simpson succumbed to his battle with cancer, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time, his family requests privacy and grace,” a statement from the family said.
In May 2023, Simpson shared a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, revealing his recent battle with cancer and successful treatment, without specifying the type of cancer.
In February 2024, a Las Vegas television station reported that Simpson, then 76, was undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer. Simpson posted a video on X denying rumors of hospice care but did not confirm or deny his illness. In a subsequent video, he expressed gratitude for the support he received and stated, “My health is good.”
Orenthal James Simpson, nicknamed “The Juice,” achieved fame as a college and professional football player, and later expanded his celebrity through roles as a sportscaster, actor, and corporate spokesman, notably for Hertz rental cars.
All this changed on June 12, 1994, when Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were fatally stabbed outside her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Police quickly identified Simpson as a suspect in the murders.
Five days after the killings, Simpson, with longtime friend Al Cowlings driving his white Ford Bronco, engaged in a televised low-speed chase through Los Angeles, with Simpson in the back seat wielding a handgun.
Simpson surrendered to police and stood trial for the murders, which garnered international attention. In October 1995, he was acquitted after an 11-month trial.
In September 2007, Simpson was arrested for leading a group to steal sports memorabilia at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel. He was convicted the following year and sentenced to up to 33 years in prison, being released on parole in October 2017.
O.J. Simpson is survived by four children: Arnelle and Jason from his first marriage, and Sydney and Justin from his marriage to Nicole Brown Simpson.
Photo credit – Jeno’s Pizza / Wikimedia Commons / New York, NY
