The late O.J. Simpson was recently included in an “In Memoriam” segment during the BET Awards last weekend. In 1995, Simpson was tried and acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Despite being found not guilty, the former professional athlete’s name has been marred in controversy as many speculate that he actually committed the crime.
According to footage of the event, host Taraji P. Henson introduced the segment, expressing that it was important to honor the deceased individuals who had made great contributions to the black community. The presentation featured a number of different figures, hailing from various industries and disciplines.
“As we celebrate Black excellence tonight, we must also honor the black excellence that we unfortunately lost this year. It’s never easy to say goodbye to those who influence us, but we can take a moment to celebrate and acknowledge their contributions to the culture, from singers to actors, athletes to activists, these individuals changed how our artistry is seen and left us with a legacy that we will always remember,” Henson introduced the “In Memoriam.”
However, as Simpson flashed among the other faces on screen, the crowd appeared to react in surprise, with an awkward silence, having previously been applauding the other names. O.J. was labeled as a “Former NFL Player” in the presentation. As TMZ reported, “One thing was clear: O.J. didn’t come close to receiving the thunderous applause Clarence Avant, Willie Mays, Louis Gossett Jr., Carl Weathers, and Bill Cobbs did.”
Earlier this year, Simpson died from complications with prostate cancer at the age of 76. His passing drew mixed reactions from the general public, where some honored his sports legacy. However, many other still viewed O.J. as a controversial figure whose name is inextricable from the infamous murder trial in the mid-90s. While Simpson was acquitted in 1995, a 1997 civil trial brought forth by the families of the murder victims ultimately found him responsible for the killings.
Last year, The American Tribune reported on news surrounding O.J., who discussed the “best legal advice” he had ever received in the wake of the controversial indictment of former President Donald Trump. Drawing from his own extensive experience with the legal system, Simpson advised Trump not to publicly discuss his case.
“The Donald waving secret documents and even admitting that they weren’t declassified. I don’t know if it was bluster or not. All I know is that cannot help him. I’m gonna share some advice that I got from some of the greatest legal minds of our generation, of my lifetime, F lee Bailey, Alan Dershowitz, Johnny Cochran, Bob the great, Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, Malcolm Laverne here in Vegas,” Simpson said.
He continued, “The one thing they all told me and stressed to me, Do not talk about the case publicly. Do not do interviews about the case… I don’t know if Donald’s lawyers are stressing this too. If they’re not, they should be fired, and he should sue.” Watch footage of the controversial “In Memoriam” at the BET Awards show below:
Featured image credit: LAPD, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:O.J._Simpson_1994.jpg
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