Former NFL running back O.J Simpson, who was acquitted in the trial of the century dies, aged 76

OJ Simpson dies aged 76.

The former NFL running back and actor, whose achievements were marred by his 1995 murder trial, died Wednesday following a battle with cancer.

The Simpson family released a statement via OJ’s official X account that read: “On April 10, 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 respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”

According to TMZ, OJ was battling prostate cancer and his health had deteriorated in recent months.

In February of this year, Simpson dispelled rumors that he was receiving hospice care.

“Hospice?! Hospice?! Are you talking about Hospice?” Simpson said at the time in a video posted to social media.

“No, I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who posted that, but whoever posted that, I guess it’s like Donald said, ‘You can’t trust the media .’

“It’s all good,” Simpson added.

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Simpson is a Hall of Fame running back who spent 11 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Buffalo Bills.

“The Juice” enjoyed a decorated college football career and won the Heisman Trophy with the USC Trojans before the Bills selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 1969 NFL Draft.

He quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the NFL and was named NFL MVP in 1973 and Offensive Player of the Year in 1973.

He also became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season and led the league four times in rushing yards and twice in rushing touchdowns.

Despite the accolades, he never reached the Super Bowl and only appeared in the playoffs once with the Bills.

Simpson was a five-time Pro Bowler during his career and retired in 1979 after a two-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers.

He totaled 11,236 rushing yards in his career and scored 76 touchdowns.

After his football career, Simpson became an actor and appeared in various films and television shows, including the Naked Gun film series.

However, he became infamous in 1994 after being accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

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Simpson initially failed to surrender and led police on an infamous low-speed chase on a Los Angeles freeway that was nationally televised.

Simpson ultimately pleaded not guilty to the murders and, after a highly publicized trial dubbed “the trial of the century,” was acquitted by a jury.

After he was acquitted, a separate civil trial jury in 1997 found him responsible for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to Brown and Goldman’s family members.

Simpson had three children from his first marriage to Marguerite L. Whitley, Arnelle, Jason and Aaren – the latter of whom sadly drowned in the family swimming pool when he was just two years old.

The former NFL star met Nicole Brown in 1977 while working as a waitress at a Beverly Hills nightclub called “The Daisy.”

They married in 1985 and had two children, Sydney and Justin.

The marriage lasted seven years and they divorced in 1992.

Nicole was killed in 1994 but Simpson was acquitted of all charges.

In 2008, Simpson faced further legal problems after being sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison for an armed robbery in Las Vegas.

He was released on parole in 2017 and ended in late 2021.

Simpson spent the last years of his life in Las Vegas, where he lived a relatively private and peaceful life, away from the public eye.

Last July, he underwent emergency heart surgery and, more recently, was spotted walking around his Las Vegas neighborhood with a cane.

However, he was still active on social media and appeared on the Come And Talk 2 Me podcast in September 2023.

He died on April 11, 2024 surrounded by his children and grandchildren.