O.J. Simpson, controversial figure and football legend, dies at 76

On April 11, 2024, O.J. Simpson passed away. The former American football player and actor, known for his involvement in a high-profile murder case, faced numerous controversies beyond his legal battles over the years. It appears that his past relationships were fraught with difficulties...

It was announced on April 11 that Simpson had died, succumbing to cancer with his family by his side. The official statement read, "On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, died after losing his battle with cancer. His children and grandchildren surrounded him. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy."

Simpson was 76 at the time of his death. In May of the previous year, he had disclosed his cancer diagnosis in a video, later announcing that his treatment had initially been successful. However, two months before his passing, reports surfaced that he was again facing health challenges, though Simpson himself stated he was managing well despite multiple health issues.

In the 1970s, Simpson was one of the most celebrated athletes in the United States. His fame allowed him to pursue an acting career. He was well-known for his role as Detective Nordberg in the "Naked Gun" series.

Simpson married Marguerite Whitley for the first time in 1967. The marriage, however, ended in part due to Simpson's infidelity. He was subsequently involved with Kristen Mary Houghton, known as Kris Jenner. In 1977, Simpson began an affair with Nicole Brown, whom he married a few years later after meeting her in a nightclub. This marriage, too, came to an end with allegations of abuse. Nicole kept a diary describing the violence she endured, noting, "The first time he beat me was after a party... He threw me to the floor, hit me, kicked me... and beat me for hours."

Reminder: Did O.J. Simpson confess to killing his wife on television? "He went there to kill her."

Before his second marriage ended, Simpson allegedly had an affair with Tawny Kitaen, allegedly due to being displeased with his pregnant wife's weight gain. In 1992, he started seeing Paula Barbieri, who later recounted instances of his rage in her book "The Other Woman: My Years with O.J. Simpson."

Barbieri recalls, "I was furious and terrified... I felt like he was ready to pounce on me... as if another person was inside him, wild and brutal."

In 1994, Simpson's image shifted dramatically. He was charged with the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, which resulted in a widely followed trial, Simpson was acquitted. Notably, one of his defense lawyers was Robert Kardashian.

Simpson also had a long-term relationship with Christine Prody, who reported enduring physical and emotional abuse. She expressed her feelings of entrapment, saying, "If I had tried to leave, he would have found me... I had nowhere to run."