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As it happenedended

OJ Simpson made all visitors, including family, sign NDAs in final days before his death

OJ Simpson was infamously acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and waiter Ron Goldman in the so-called ‘trial of the century’ — and spent the rest of his life leaning into his notoriety

Graig Graziosi,Tom Watling
Monday 15 April 2024 19:06 BST
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OJ Simpson dies at age 76, family says

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OJ Simpson is said to have made all visitors, including his family, sign non-disclosure agreements to visit him in the days before his death.

In the 1990s, he became arguably the most infamous man in America after he was charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, a waiter, who were stabbed to death. The trial in 1995 dominated the news for months, sparking contentious debate about fame, domestic abuse and racist treatment of Black Americans by the police. He was ultimately acquitted.

In 1997 Simpson was found liable for the pair’s deaths in a civil proceeding. Simpson was ordered to pay $33.5 million in a judgment, but managed to avoid paying significant damages.

Sources with direct knowledge have told TMZ that somewhere between 30 to 50 people – made up of friends and other family – saw OJ in person at his home in Las Vegas before he died on Wednesday. They are all said to signed the NDAs, and no phones were allowed in the room with Simpson.

Simpson was battling prostate cancer, according to his family.

Now, Malcolm LaVergn, the executor of Simpson’s estate, has vowed to prevent the payout of a $33.5m judgement to the families of Goldman and Brown Simpson, saying that he hopes to ensure that Goldman’s family, in particular, “get nothing”.

Speaking to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mr LaVergn, who represented Simpson for the last 15 years of his life, said: “It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing.

“Them specifically. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing.”

Watch: Oprah audience reacts to OJ Simpson trial verdict in resurfaced clip

Watch as the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show react to the verdict of OJ Simpson’s trial in a resurfaced clip.

The former athlete was accused of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994 and his acquittal the following year after the “trial of the century” was watched around the world.

The verdict was streamed live to Oprah’s audience on 3 October 1995, with cheers breaking out as Simpson was acquitted on both counts of murder.

Simpson died aged 76 on Wednesday 10 April, his family confirmed.

Watch: Oprah audience reacts to OJ Simpson trial verdict in resurfaced clip

Watch as the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show react to the verdict of OJ Simpson’s trial in a resurfaced clip. The former athlete was accused of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994 and his acquittal the following year after the “trial of the century” was watched around the world. The verdict was streamed live to Oprah’s audience on 3 October 1995, with cheers breaking out as Simpson was acquitted on both counts of murder. Simpson died aged 76 on Wednesday 10 April, his family confirmed.

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 02:00

Nothing is important but the victims: Father of Ron Goldman, stabbed next to Nicole Brown, speaks on OJ death

The father of Ron Goldman, who was murdered alongside his friend Nicole Brown 30 years ago, said the news of OJ Simpson’s death was a further reminder of how long his son has been gone, and how much he is missed.

Goldman, 25, and Brown, 35, were stabbed to death on 12 June 1994 outside Brown’s home in Brentwood, California.

Simpson, Brown’s ex-husband, was charged with their murders but acquitted in what was dubbed the “trial of the century”. A civil court later found Simpson, a former NFL player and actor, liable for their deaths.

READ MORE:

Father of murdered Ron Goldman speaks on OJ Simpson’s death

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Ron Goldman, 25, and Nicole Brown, 35, were stabbed to death in June 1994 outside Brown’s home in Brentwood, California

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 03:00

Who was OJ Simpson before his wife’s infamous murder? The football star aspiring to film fame

Before OJ Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife and her friend – and sensationally acquitted at the “trial of the century” in 1995 – he was already a household name in the United States.

The former athlete – who died on Wednesday aged 76 after a battle with cancer – had effectively parlayed his NFL superstar status into acting and advertising stardom.

READ MORE:

Who was OJ Simpson before the murder of his wife?

Before being accused of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, Simpson was one of the best loved celebrities in North America, dubbed ‘the first black athlete to become a bona fide lovable media superstar’

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 04:00

Relatives of Simpson ‘made to sign NDAs’ during visits

The family, friends and medical staff are said to have been made to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when visiting OJ Simpson at his home in the final days before his death.

Sources with direct knowledge have told TMZ that somewhere between 30 to 50 people – made up of friends and other family – saw OJ in person before he died on Wednesday. They are all said to signed the NDAs, and no phones were allowed in the room with him.

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 04:59

OJ Simpson obituary: The football star and actor turned celebrity murder defendant

OJ Simpson, the American football star and actor who was acquitted in a sensational 1995 trial of murdering his former wife but was found responsible for her death in a civil lawsuit and was later imprisoned for armed robbery and kidnapping, has died at the age of 76.

Simpson, cleared by a Los Angeles jury in what the U.S. media called “the trial of the century,” had died on Wednesday after a battle with cancer, his family posted on social media on Thursday.

Simpson avoided prison when he was found not guilty in the 1994 stabbing deaths of former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles. Simpson later served nine years in a Nevada prison after being convicted in 2008 on 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel.

Nicknamed “The Juice,” Simpson was one of the best and most popular athletes of the late 1960s and 1970s. He overcame childhood infirmity to become an electrifying running back at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy as college football’s top player. After a record-setting career in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

READ MORE:

OJ Simpson’s story gripped the world: A timeline of his fall from grace

He overcame childhood illness to become a football legend, but when he was charged with murdering his ex-wife and her friend, his very name divided America

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 06:00

OJ Simpson dead: Infamous murder suspect and American Football star dies aged 76

Orenthal James “OJ” Simpson has died at 76 years old, his family confirmed in a statement.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” his family wrote. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.”

Simpson was a former American football player – often regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time – and actor who became a cultural icon. But he was perhaps most well known for his role in the highly publicised and controversial trial of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

In what many referred to as “the trial of the century”, Simpson was accused, charged and then acquitted of murdering Brown and Goldman in 1994. His acquittal, by a mostly Black jury, was a seminal moment in US cultural history.

READ MORE:

OJ Simpson dies aged 76 after cancer battle

Simpson died on Wednesday after a battle with prostate cancer

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 07:00

Kato Kaelin expresses love for Goldman and Brown family

Kato Kaelin, an actor who served as a minor witness in the OJ Simpson trial, shared a statement on social media, expressing his love and compassion for the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman following the death of Simpson.

“I’d like to express my condolences to the children, to Sydney and to Justin to Jason and Arnelle. They’ve lost their father and that is never easy,” Kaelin said.

“I wish to express my love and compassion to the Goldmans, to Fred and Kim. I hope you find closure. And finally, to the family of the beautiful Nicole Brown Simpson. May we always cherish her memories.”

Kaelin testified briefly during the trial and gained some national attention for it. He was staying in Simpson’s guesthouse the night Brown Simpson and Goldman were murdered.

He added, “Nicole was a beacon of light that burned bright may we never forget her.

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 08:00

White House says ‘thoughts’ are with Simpson family

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Joe Biden’s thoughts were with the family of OJ Simpson following his death during the White House press briefing on Thursday.

“I’ll say this, our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time, obviously with his family and loved ones. And I’ll say this, I know that they have asked for some privacy, and so we’re going to respect that. I’ll just leave it there,” Ms Jean-Pierre said in response to a question about Simpson’s death.

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 09:00

OJ Simpson leaves behind a staggering net worth - here’s who stands to inherit his fortune

OJ Simpson has died aged 76 after a reported long battle with prostate cancer.

The American football star, who was infamously acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, saw his health deteriorate in the past few months with him landing in hospice care, according to TMZ.

His death was announced when the NFL Hall of Famer’s X account posted a simple message from his family.

READ MORE:

How much was OJ Simpson worth and who stands to inherit his fortune?

O.J. Simpson’s net worth peaked in 1981 when he was worth $38million

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 10:00

OJ Simpson assured fans he was in good health in final tweets before prostate cancer death

In some of his final tweets before his death from prostrate cancer OJ Simpson announced that he was “just about over” some of the health “issues” he’d been having.

“My health is good”, the former NFL player, actor and acquitted murder suspect said on X. “I mean, obviously, I’m dealing with some issues, but hey, I think I’m just about over it and I’ll be back home on that golf course hopefully in a couple of weeks.

“But it was very nice hearing from you and hearing those good, positive thoughts”, Simpson said, speaking to his supporters on X in February during Super Bowl weekend.

READ MORE:

OJ Simpson told fans about good health in final tweets before prostate cancer death

The former football star, actor and acquitted murder suspect died on Wednesday, his family announced

Graig Graziosi13 April 2024 11:00

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