OJ Simpson, accused in 'trial of century,' dies at 76
OJ Simpson, the famed former NFL player, has died at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer. His family confirmed his passing on Thursday through a statement shared on Simpson's official account. The statement read: "On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer." The family has requested privacy during this challenging time.
Simpson's cancer battle was revealed two months back
Simpson's struggle with prostate cancer was made public almost two months before his death. This information was disclosed by Jim Porter, President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The legendary player had been undergoing chemotherapy treatments in an effort to combat the disease. Notably, Simpson remained surrounded by family throughout his battle.
Simpson's illustrious football career and legal controversies
Born in 1947 in San Francisco, Simpson's athletic talent led him to win the 1968 Heisman Trophy during his senior year at the University of Southern California. He later played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. However, his sporting achievements were overshadowed by a high-profile trial where he faced charges for the murders of his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
Simpson's legal battles and later life
Despite being acquitted in the criminal trial for the murders of Brown Simpson and Goldman, a civil court found Simpson responsible for their wrongful deaths in 1997. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages. In a separate incident, he served nine years of a 33-year sentence for an armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2007. After being granted parole in 2017, he "revived his idol-scale notoriety" on Twitter, where he shared his views on football and politics.
