Controversial ex-NFL player OJ Simpson dies of cancer at 76, Internet says 'society will not miss' him

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: OJ Simpson, one of the most controversial figures in the US during his murder trial in the ’90s, has breathed his last after a long cancer battle. The former NFL star died in Las Vegas on Wednesday, April 10, at the age of 76, his family confirmed.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” the family wrote on X on Thursday, per The Guardian.

“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,” the brief statement added.

OJ Simpson and his controversial life

Simpson played in the NFL for over a decade after which he used his MVP status to make a career in Hollywood. However, with his stardom continuing to rise, Simpson’s home life got riddled with various turmoils.

After separating from his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, in 1979, he married waitress Nicole Brown, who later accused him of vicious spousal abuse that included verbal taunts and physical beatings.

The couple then divorced in 1992. Nicole Brown and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were found stabbed to death outside her Brentwood home a couple of years later on June 12, 1994. 

Simpson, who shared two young children with Brown, was arrested for the killings a few days later.

OJ Simpson's arrest was all over the news

Simpson's murder trial became the most infamous and contentious topic among the media outlets, as the former football star’s “Dream Team” of high-profile lawyers tried to refute a seemingly damning stack of evidence.

In addition to high-profile lawyers Robert Shapiro and Johnny Cochran, the "Dream Team" consisted of Robert Kardashian, whose daughter, Kim, later parlayed her own sex tape infamy into a reality television empire.

The high-profile trial became legendary when Simpson struggled to try on a blood-stained glove, causing defense attorney Johnnie Cochran to quip “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” The country underwent a major state of shock, anger, and celebration when Simpson was acquitted on October 3, 1995. 

The case was a humiliating loss for prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden, who were expected to net a conviction for the struggling Los Angeles DA’s office. Simpson was ordered to pay the families of Brown and Goldman over $33 million in civil proceedings for wrongful death and battery despite roaming scot-free after the criminal charges.

Simpson’s Heisman Trophy was auctioned off to drum up cash. The award and other belongings brought about almost $500,000, which went to the Goldman family, the outlet said.

OJ Simpson struggled in the years following his acquittal

The former Buffalo Bills player looked frail just two months before his death. However, he assured the public that he was in good health after a brief social media video. The athlete also sparked health concerns when he was seen limping while out in Las Vegas in November.

Besides auctioning off the accomplishments of his illustrious sports career, he struggled to pay taxes and defaulted on the mortgage on his longtime home. His attempts to make money off of books and TV interviews surrounding the murders were also squashed in court following an outcry from the victims’ families.

Goldman’s family famously won the rights to Simpson’s manuscript about the case, which was titled “If I Did It.” “It helped me get out of debt and secure my homestead,” Simpson told the Associated Press at the time, also mentioning that he received $880,000 advance for the book. “It’s all blood money, and unfortunately I had to join the jackals,” he added.

OJ Simpson was also arrested multiple times

Simpson spent nine years behind bars on armed robbery in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2007, and other felony charges, though he insisted that the videotaped confrontation was simply him trying to retrieve memorabilia that was rightfully his.

His parole ended in 2021. In recent years, he made occasional appearances on social media – including a bizarre video he shared last year about convicted wife killer Alex Murdaugh.

Internet reacts to OJ Simpson's death

OJ Simpson's death drew mixed responses from Internet users.

A netizen wrote, "Tragic. i know he’s looking up at us right now," while another tweeted, "My prayers are with the Brown and Goldman families."

"RIP Nicole Brown," said one and another opined, "OJ Simpson is someone society will not miss."

"He really carved out a life for himself after getting away with murder," added another X user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.