OJ Simpson death: How 'trial of the century' shattered the Kardashian clan

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: In 1995, the United States was gripped by a trial that would go down in history - the trial of OJ Simpson, the revered football star accused of a brutal double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. 

Simpson died in Nevada on Wednesday, April 10 at the age of 76 while battling cancer. Behind the scenes of this sensational "trial of the century," however, lay a deeply personal drama that tore apart one of America's most famous families - the Kardashians.

OJ Simpson's 'trial of the century' shattered the Kardashians

At the heart of this tale lies the enigmatic figure of Simpson, known affectionately to the Kardashian clan as "Uncle OJ."

Simpson's close friendship with patriarch Robert Kardashian forged a bond that extended to family vacations and shared moments, blurring the lines between friend and family.

However, when Simpson became embroiled in one of the most infamous criminal cases in American history, the Kardashian family found themselves deeply divided.

Robert, standing by his loyalty to his friend, took up the mantle of Simpson's defense, while matriarch Kris Jenner found herself standing on the opposite side, supporting her best friend Nicole's grieving loved ones.

Kris Jenner and ex-Robert went to war over Nicole Simpson's murder 

The courtroom turned into a battleground for the Kardashian children, who were compelled to pick sides between their parents. Kim Kardashian, then just 13 years old, vividly remembers the emotional turmoil of those days, where remaining loyal to one parent meant betraying the other.

"It tore my family apart, I'd say, for the whole time of the trial," the Skims mogul recalled to David Letterman in 2020, per Daily Mail.

Despite the family's outward appearance of unity, behind closed doors, tensions ran high. Kris's unwavering belief in Nicole's innocence clashed with Robert's defense of his friend. The trial became a crucible that tested the bonds of family, leaving scars that would linger for years to come.

Nicole Brown's abusive relationship with OJ Simpson

Beyond the courtroom drama, the trial exposed dark secrets and concealed truths. Details emerged revealing that Nicole "had documented 17 years of abuse" inflicted by Simpson, painting a chilling picture of a relationship fraught with violence and turmoil.

"She really wanted someone close to her to know what was going on, so that somebody — namely me — could be a witness,"  Kris wrote in her 2011 memoir, 'All Things Kardashian.'

For Robert, the trial posed a moral dilemma. Despite his steadfast loyalty to Simpson, whispers of doubt plagued him.

Even after Simpson's acquittal, uncertainties remained, as rumors surfaced suggesting that Robert harbored private beliefs in Simpson's guilt.