OJ Simpson, a former NFL star running back who later in life pursued acting and other ventures, has reportedly died, according to a family statement. Via social media, OJ Simpson's family says he died on April 10 after a battle with cancer.
As seen on X, ex-Twitter, Simpson's family says loved ones have surrounded the former Buffalo Bills star during his transition.
From X:
On April 10th, 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.
-The Simpsons
The news came as a shock to many, although Simpson has not been in the public eye lately. In the 1990s, Simpson was maligned after the brutal murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and friend Ron Goldman, and the fact that he was later acquitted of all charges. Once considered a popular publicity stunt and sympathetic figure, the controversy surrounding his wife's murder, including his tactical defense of the late Johnnie Cochran, painted Simpson in an unfavorable light with many.
In his later years, Simpson returned to public life through reality television and became a prominent presence on social media, often taking pains to inform the public that he was behind his account activity and not the work of others. Simpson changed his image with his 2007 book. If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.
At X, people react to the news with memes and other sharp words that we just report on. You can see these answers in the gallery below.
OJ Simpson was 76 years old.
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Photo: VINCE BUCCI/Getty
