Death of OJ Simpson: American football, cinema, “trial of the century”… the many facets of the former glory of sport

He was one of the most publicized American athletes in history. And not always for the right reasons. This Thursday, April 11, former American football superstar OJ Simpson, accused of having murdered his former wife and her friend in 1994, before being acquitted after a trial broadcast live on the television, died at the age of 76.

“On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, died following his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren,” his family wrote on X.

VIDEO. OJ Simpson, former American football star acquitted in the “trial of the century”, is dead

First adored for his football talents, he who was chosen first in the 1969 draft then elected best player in the NFL in 1973, the former running back then divided the United States for nearly twenty-five years problems with the law.

The American has even become a symbol of the struggle between blacks and whites, his defense being based in particular on the racist reputation of the Los Angeles police, while bloody racial riots had broken out in California three years earlier following the attack on African-American Rodney King.

A white Ford Bronco gone down in history

One episode remains particularly memorable: his incredible chase on the highways of the City of Angels. When his former wife, Nicole Brown, met in 1977 in a Beverly Hills nightclub, was found dead at her home on June 12, 1994 alongside her friend Ronald Goldman, OJ Simpson quickly became the main suspect.

Wanted by the police, the former American football glory tries to flee in his famous white Ford Bronco, but is quickly followed by countless police cars. His chase, which will last two hours, is broadcast live and followed by nearly a hundred million viewers thanks to television cameras placed in helicopters. Aware that escape was impossible, OJ Simpson finally returned home and surrendered to the police.

Best NFL player in 1973

This affair immediately made the front pages of all American newspapers. It must be said that Orenthal James Simpson, his full name, is a star, a superstar. A fantastic athlete, despite the rickets he contracted at the age of two, the American quickly became one of the figures in his discipline. Particularly fast and elusive during these two years with the University of Southern California Trojans, the San Francisco native took the steps at breakneck speed, and arrived in the NFL at 22 years old.

Drafted by the Buffalo Bills, the franchise with which he played for nine seasons before ending his career in his hometown, with the San Francisco 49ers, OJ Simpson became the reference for his position, that of “running back”. His smile and his charisma even made him a figure in the American league, where he was voted best player in 1973.

OJ Simpson in a Buffalo Bills jersey in 1973. Getty Images/Focus On Sport

But this also allows him to try other disciplines, notably cinema and sports commentary. In total, the American will appear twelve times on the big screen, ending his acting career with “Is there a cop to save Hollywood?” » a few weeks before his arrest. This marked the beginning of a long descent into hell, which would lead to a stay in prison.

The “trial of the century”

Seven months after his improbable chase, which had America glued to its screen, OJ Simpson returned to the forefront during his trial, later nicknamed the “trial of the century” and at the heart of many subsequent documentaries.

For eight months, during 133 days of a hearing with twists and turns, the former American footballer is scrutinized by the population, who delight and tear up at this spectacle. Claiming his innocence, the accused notably highlights the flaws in the case, and reports racist remarks from one of the investigators in charge of the case.

This accusation will inflame California. Convinced of his innocence, the African-American population comes daily to support the former glory of the NFL and demands his acquittal. After three short hours of deliberation, on October 3, 1995, in front of more than 200 million viewers, the verdict fell: OJ Simpson was acquitted. However, he was found responsible during a civil trial in 1997, and ordered to pay the families of the two victims compensation of more than 33 million euros, a sum they would never receive.

“Not a great loss for the world”

“The Juice”, as he was nicknamed during his career, however, was not done with justice. Ten years later, he is at the heart of a new affair: the kidnapping, armed robbery and attack of two traders who were selling his own high-level sports memorabilia in Las Vegas. This time he did not escape conviction, and received a prison sentence of thirty-three years. There will only be nine.

Discreet since his release from prison on October 1, 2017, OJ Simpson was suffering from cancer. He died this Thursday, at the age of 76. This announcement did not sadden Fred Goldman, the father of one of the victims, who told NBC News: “It’s not a great loss for the world. » A world that the former star will still have turned upside down.