On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.
-The Simpson Family
Simpson revealed in a video he broadcast on X, the name of Twitter at the time, that he had "caught cancer" and "had to do the whole chemo thing" in May 2023. "It looks like I beat it," he continued. Simpson did not describe the cancer's type.
Then, a Las Vegas television station revealed in February 2024 that Simpson was receiving treatment for an undisclosed cancer once more. That day, Simpson himself uploaded a video to X, refuting accusations that he was receiving hospice care; nevertheless, he made no additional statement confirming or refuting the reports. In a further video update on X, two days later, Simpson expressed gratitude to individuals who have gotten in touch with him and stated, "My health is good." Of course, I have problems, but I believe I'm almost through with it.
As a collegiate and professional football player, Simpson—nicknamed "The Juice"—broke records. He also expanded his fame and wealth as a sportscaster, actor in films and television shows, and corporate spokesperson—most notably for Hertz rental cars.
Everything changed on June 12, 1994, when Nicole Brown Simpson, the ex-wife of Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were fatally stabbed outside of her Brentwood, Los Angeles, home. Police declared within days that they will apprehend the former football player for the killings. 95 million people watched, five days after the killings, as Simpson's white Ford Bronco, driven by his longtime friend Al Cowlings, with Simpson threatening to kill himself while brandishing a handgun in the back seat, took police on a two-hour, low-speed, 60-mile chase through Los Angeles on television.
In the end, Simpson turned himself in to the police and was put on trial for the killings. After 11 months from jury selection to the conviction in October 1995, Simpson's trial, which was shown on television every day and gained worldwide attention, ended with his acquittal. Twelve years later, in September 2007, Simpson was taken into custody after leading a gang of men into a hotel and casino in Las Vegas and stealing, allegedly at gunpoint, sports memorabilia that he owned. Simpson was accused with several felonies, such as armed robbery and kidnapping. He was found guilty and given a sentence of up to 33 years in jail the following year. Simpson was paroled on October 1, 2017.
Four children survive Simpson: Sydney and Justin from his marriage to Nicole Brown Simpson, and Arnelle and Jason from his first marriage.
Simpson's housemate at the time of the murder, Kato Kaelin, who later testified as a crucial witness in the prosecution, sent his condolences to Simpson's children on Thursday and offered his "love and compassion" to the families of Brown Simpson and Goldman. "Nicole was a bright light that shone everywhere. He remarked, "May we never forget her," in a video message that was uploaded to X.