Former NFL running back O.J. Simpson died on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.
“He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren,” a statement from the family said. “During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills runs during a game against the New York Jets in New York, New York. (Focus On Sport/Getty Images)
Headlines were made in February when it was announced that the former NFL player and accused murderer had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Reports also indicated that Simpson had entered hospice care while he received chemotherapy treatment. However, Simpson himself refuted that report on X.
“Hospice? Hospice? You talking ‘bout hospice?” Simpson said in a video posted to X.
Simpson achieved fame as a college football star at USC and followed that up with a stellar 11-year career in the NFL before launching a successful broadcasting and movie career.
However, in 1994, Simpson’s fame gave way to infamy as video of him fleeing Los Angeles police officers in a white Bronco after he was charged with the murder of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Simpson went to trial to contest the charges in 1995 and was acquitted of criminal murder. The verdict came as a shock to many who believed Simpson was the murderer and that the verdict was fraudulent.
O.J. Simpson shows the jury a new pair of Aris extra-large gloves, similar to the gloves found at the Bundy and Rockingham crime scene on 21 June during his double murder trial in Los Angeles. Deputy Sheriff Roland Jex(L) and Prosector Christopher Darden(R) look on. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read POO/AFP via Getty Images)
Two years later, Simpson was found civilly liable for the murders.
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