OJ Simpson’s shock tribute at BET Awards 2024 SLAMMED by Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman’s families – two months after double-murder suspect died from cancer aged 76
OJ Simpson’s shocking tribute at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday has been slammed by the families of murder victims Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.
Simpson, who became one of America’s most notorious figures after he was charged with the murders of his ex-wife Brown and her friend Goldman in 1994 and later acquitted in the Trial of the Century, was featured in the series’ In Memoriam segment.
Two months after Simpson died of prostate cancer at age 76, Simpson β along with stars including Louis Gossett Jr. and civil rights activist Dexter Scott King β was honored as a “former NFL player” β to warm applause when his picture was displayed.
The decision to honor the convicted felon β who also spent nine years in a Nevada prison in 2008 after being convicted of 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping β was fiercely criticized by Brown’s and Goldman’s families, with viewers expressing “disgust” and anger.
Ron’s father Fred Goldman said TMZ: ‘I don’t think they should bring in someone of that caliber – a wife beater, a murderer… I can’t imagine why they would bring in someone like that.’
OJ Simpson’s shocking tribute at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday is by the families of murder victims Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman – Simpson pictured in 2008
Simpson β who became one of the most infamous figures in America after he was accused of murdering his ex-wife Brown and her friend Goldman in 1994 β and later acquitted in the trial of the century β appeared on screen as part of the show’s In Memoriam segment
Nicole’s sister Tanya added: ‘It is inappropriate to give recognition to an abuser and murderer.
“Whoever came up with that owes every victim of domestic violence an apology… and that includes our family. And they should be fired.”
One fan wrote, “Putting Oj Simpson in the memorial is absolutely disgusting,” while another wrote, “Y’all must have gone crazy, including Oj Simpson in the memo.”
Others wrote: ‘It’s insane to ignore Usher’s speech but add OJ Simpson to the βIn Memoriamβ’, ‘BET Awards is so irrelevant they had to put that killer OJ Simpson in the In Memoriam so they can get attention on all the shows tomorrow. Tragic.’
Another fan wrote: ‘Ngl.. I almost changed the channel when OJ Simpson came on screen during that obituary at the 2024 Bet Awards. Like noβ¦. He should have been banned.
“Including Oj Simpson in your in memoriam tribute, but not Andre Braugher, that’s a gamble.”
Simpson was later found civilly liable for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman
Despite a successful NFL career, Simpson was best known for his acquittal after his high-profile murder trial in 1995, dubbed the “Trial of the Century.”
Simpson was acquitted, but later found civilly liable for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown. Pictured: The couple in New York in 1993
Brown was found brutally stabbed to death outside her Los Angeles home along with her boyfriend Ron Goldman, who was also murdered
Viewers were left ‘disgusted’ and outraged by the segment
He was accused of killing Brown and Goldman, who were found brutally dead outside her Los Angeles home.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest were equally scandalous, with the former NFL star Officers initiated a low-speed chase after learning of the impending charges.
Millions of people watched the 90-minute chase of Simpson’s white Ford Bronco through Southern California.
The athlete crouched in the back with a firearm as his friend Al Cowlings drove, before eventually being arrested in Brentwood.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Simpson could be linked to the crime scene through forensic evidence.
A now infamous moment saw Simpson struggling to put on a pair of black gloves believed to have been worn by the killer. One glove was found at the crime scene, the other near Simpson’s mansion.
Prosecutors said the accused killer acted out of jealousy toward his then-ex-wife.
“He killed Nicole for one reason,” Christopher Darden told the court. “He killed her because he couldn’t have her, and if he couldn’t have her, he didn’t want anyone else to.” Despite the evidence, Simpson was acquitted.
Fred Goldman (C), father of Ronald Goldman, his daughter Kim (L) and his wife Patty are pictured during the trial in 1994 – Fred said: I don’t think they should take someone of that caliber – a wife beater, murderer… I can’t imagine why they would take someone like that’
Commentators agree that the defense, aided in part by longtime friend Robert Kardashian, leaned heavily on anger over racial bias historically displayed by the LAPD and argued that evidence had been mishandled.
Ten years later, still overshadowed by the California wrongful death verdict, Simpson found himself back in court, accused of armed robbery.
He was jailed at age 61 and served nine years in a remote northern Nevada prison, including a stint as a gym janitor. He was unrepentant when he was released on parole in October 2017.
The parole board heard him insist again that he was merely trying to retrieve sports memorabilia and family heirlooms stolen from him after his criminal trial in Los Angeles.
βI’ve actually lived a conflict-free life, you know,β said Simpson, whose parole expired at the end of 2021.
The public fascination with Simpson has never disappeared. In 2019, on the 25th anniversary of the murder, Simpson launched a Twitter account.
He quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and quickly made a name for himself through his presence on the app, often posting short videos of himself giving his opinions and commentary on a range of topics.
His sports and movie stardom would be overshadowed by his arrest for the murders of Brown and Goldman. Pictured: Simpson in Los Angeles Superior Court in December 1994
The father-of-six at a premiere with his then-wife Nicole Brown and their children Sydney and Justin
Simpson (pictured during his 1995 trial) became one of America’s most notorious figures after he was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994
There has been much debate over whether he was punished in Las Vegas for his acquittal in Los Angeles.
In 2016, he was the subject of both an FX miniseries and a five-part ESPN documentary.
βI don’t think most of America believes I did it,β Simpson told The New York Times in 1995, a week after a jury found he did not kill Brown and Goldman. “I have received thousands of letters and telegrams from people supporting me.”
Twelve years later, after public outcry, Rupert Murdoch canceled a planned book from News Corp-owned HarperCollins in which Simpson gave his hypothetical account of the murders. It was to have been titled If I Did It.
The book was one of the ways in which Simpson tried to capitalize on the controversy surrounding his trial.
Simpson is survived by his children Arnelle and Jason Simpson from his marriage to first wife Marguerite Whitley, as well as Sydney and Justin Simpson from his marriage to Brown.
Whitley and Simpson also had a daughter, Aaren, who tragically drowned in the family swimming pool at age two. The couple separated in 1979, the same year as Aaren’s death.
Simpson and Brown tied the knot in 1985, but their marriage was turbulent due to Simpson’s extreme temper tantrums and accusations of domestic violence.
In 1989, Brown called the police in a panic, claiming Simpson was threatening to kill her. When police arrived, they noticed she was covered in bruises and had a split lip.
Simpson eventually pleaded no contest to marital battery.