O.J. Simpson, the former athlete whose name sparked controversy in a 1994 criminal trial over the deaths of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, has died at the age of 76.
Caitlyn Jenner was one of the first celebrities to react to his death on social media on Thursday.
Former Olympian and reality star's ex-wife Kris Jenner, who was close friends with Brown Simpson, posted:Good riddance #OJSimpson. ”
Simpson's cause of death was cancer. Posts on X by families of athletes and actorsformerly Twitter.
The post read: “On April 10th, our father Orental James Simpson passed away after a battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. We would like to extend our condolences to him during this time of transition. The family asks that their wishes for privacy and elegance be respected. -The Simpson Family.”
Beyond his career, Simpson made waves after he was acquitted of two murder charges in a televised trial that captivated America and deeply divided the country along racial lines.
However, a civil trial jury found Simpson responsible for the double murder of Brown Simpson and Goldman, and he subsequently served nine years in prison for his role in a botched armed robbery.
O.J. Simpson diesHis family announced that he had cancer at the age of 76.
It completes a spectacular fall for the once-famous running back who starred at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 1968. He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Buffalo Bills and at times looked unstoppable in the NFL.
He parlayed his success in sports in Hollywood into a successful career as an actor and television salesman. But everything came crashing down with a murder charge that transfixed America.
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Simpson was represented by prominent defense attorneys such as Robert Kardashian and Johnnie Cochran. He turned a bloody glove found at the crime scene into one of the trial's most memorable moments. In court, as Simpson struggled to put his hand inside the glove, Cochran told jurors: “If the gloves don't fit, he has to acquit.''
Simpson's acquittal was celebrated by those who point to the historically unjust treatment of black people by the U.S. justice system, which does not allow people of any race to afford expensive legal fees. There were voices of dismay from those who claimed that the government was giving preferential treatment to certain people.
Contributor: Josh Peter
