OJ Simpson, the controversial American football hero died on Thursday at the age of 76.
Simpson was embroiled in a court battle for months after the brutal murder of his ex-wife and her friend shook the whole world. He was acquitted in 1995 in the so-called “trial of the century”.
“Our father, Orenthal James Simpson, lost his battle with cancer,” the family said in a post on X on Thursday.
“He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren in his last moments. We ask that the public respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Simpson reportedly had prostate cancer.
He grew up in a poor family and poor health conditions, but was later known as an elite athlete who achieved great fame. In 1973, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player award.
He gained popularity as an actor and appeared in commercials promoting everything from orange juice to car rentals. This made Samson one of the most recognizable faces in the US.
However, he was later charged with the brutal murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. The court case caused world fame.
Millions of people watched the long manhunt to capture OJ Simpson and the subsequent trial on television.
His acquittal in October 1995 after a nine-month trial was met with disbelief by many Americans, who followed every nook and cranny of the arguments. There was constant speculation about complicated details such as whether a pair of gloves would really fit the former athlete’s hands.
Although Simpson was acquitted, there was no happy next chapter in his life.
Simpson was found liable for the deaths in a civil suit in 1997 and was ordered to pay damages totaling $33.5 million to the families of the victims.
He also spent almost nine years behind bars for an armed robbery before a parole board in the western state of Nevada approved his release in 2017.
Nevertheless, the public’s fascination never completely waned.
OJ: Made in Americaa nearly eight-hour documentary about his murder trial, won the Oscar for best documentary in 2017.
And The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Storya TV miniseries starring Cuba Gooding Jr as the athlete, won several Emmys in 2016.
