Sports legend and acquitted murderer O.J. Simpson has passed away following his battle with cancer. Simpson’s family made the shocking announcement of his death on social media, noting that he was surrounded by his loved ones.
Prior to his death, Simpson had become a regular on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he shared updates on his life. His last post on social media was a video of him assuring fans that he was doing better and hoped to be back on the golf course.
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O.J. Simpson Hoped To Be Back On The Golf Course In His Last Post Before His Death
In a video posted on February 11, the late football legend talked about his health struggles and how he hoped to return to the golf course as he was feeling better.
“Hey, let me take a moment to say thank you to all the people who reached out to me,” Simpson said in the short clip, which was filmed before the 2024 Super Bowl. “My health is good. I mean, I’m dealing with some issues, but hey, I think I’m just about over it, and I’ll be back on that golf course hopefully in a couple of weeks.”
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He added, “But it was very nice hearing from you and those good, positive words. Thank you.”
After talking about his health, Simpson shared his thoughts on the Super Bowl with his fans. He predicted that the San Francisco 49ers would win the game. However, the team eventually lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Simpson was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He began his professional football career as a player for the Buffalo Bills in the late 1960s. He eventually joined the San Francisco 49ers before the 1978 season and played for the team until his retirement in 1982.
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O.J. Simpson Shut Down Rumors That He Was In Hospice Care
Prior to his death, there were rumors that the football legend had been placed in hospice care due to his health struggles and battle with prostate cancer.
A local news outlet had made the claims. However, Simpson quickly shut down the rumors, stating that it was untrue and that he was doing well.
“Hey, X world! Hospice? Hos-pice?! You talkin’ about hospice? No, I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who put that out there,” Simpson said on X at the time.
He then added that “you can’t trust the media” and that he had plans to host “a ton of friends for the Super Bowl” in Las Vegas.
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O.J. Simpson’s Family Announces His Passing
The news of Simpson’s death came as a shock to many due to how present he had been on social media recently.
His family broke the news on X, writing, “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. 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’s once glowing legacy has since been tainted by the murder trials he faced following the death of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
O.J. Simpson Was Found Not Guilty By A Jury In The Historic Murder Trial
In 1994, Simpson was arrested for the murders of his former wife, Brown, and her friend Goldman.
Brown, 35 at the time, and Goldman, a 25-year-old part-time model and waiter, were both discovered dead in the courtyard of her Brentwood residence. Brown reportedly had multiple stab wounds to her head and neck.
After being questioned on the deaths, Simpson was told to report himself to the police. This led to a low-speed chase by the police, who had ID’d his white Bronco at Interstate 404 after a person reported a sighting. The chase became a media affair, with helicopters tracking his every move and major news coverage.
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Simpson was eventually declared not guilty by a jury following an eight-month trial that concluded on October 3, 1995. According to People magazine, an estimated 100 million people watched the Court TV broadcast of the proceedings to witness the stunning verdict.
Social Media Reacts To O.J. Simpson’s Death
The death of the former athlete has been met with mostly positive reactions due to how controversial he was and his alleged involvement in his ex-wife and her friend’s death.
Simpson’s former friend, Caitlyn Jenner, took to X to react to his death. She wrote, “Good Riddance #OJSimpson.
A popular account on X, called “Satan,” quipped, “OJ Simpson just arrived down here wtf.”
Another person wrote, “It’s a shame OJ Simpson went to hell before he could ever figure out who killed those people.”
