Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson, the former American football player acquitted of the brutal slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in 1994, has passed on.
In a statement on Thursday, the family said the former National Football League (NFL) player “succumbed to his battle with cancer” at the age of 76.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren,” the statement reads.
“During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
Simpson rose to popularity as a talented college footballer before he was snatched up by the Buffalo Bills in the NFL in 1969.
After a decade-long career in the NFL, he earned a regard as one of the greatest ball carriers in the history of American football. He retired in 1979 and bolstered his fame with movies and TV appearances.
However, Simpson’s popularity turned to infamy in 1994 when he was arrested as a suspect in the murder of Nicole Brown, his ex-wife, and Ron Goldman, her friend.
The lifeless bodies of the victims were found with stab wounds outside Brown’s home in Los Angeles, and the ex-NFL star was identified as the prime suspect in the murder.
The attempt to arrest Simpson by the police led to an almost cinema-like chase around the Los Angeles area. The pursuit was televised, and it grabbed global attention.
Despite evidence like DNA tests linking Simpson to the murders, he was acquitted, with his attorneys arguing the allegation was fuelled by racism.
But in 2008, Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison for armed robbery. The ex-NFL star, alongside five other men, attempted to violently reclaim sports memorabilia he insisted had been stolen from him. He was released on parole after serving nine years in jail.
