Stephen A. Smith criticized the BET Awards for including OJ Simpson in its ‘In Memoriam’ section during Sunday’s ceremony.
The decision to honor the former NFL player, who became one of America’s most infamous figures after being charged and later acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, sparked outrage.
Families of the murder victims have also criticised the organisers of the awards, and now sports TV presenter Smith has taken the lead, going so far as to label Simpson “a double murderer” despite his acquittal in the so-called trial of the century.
“In the eyes of most people, regardless of whether he’s acquitted or not, OJ Simpson is a double murderer,” Smith said on his eponymous podcast show. “My attitude is this: OJ Simpson never gave a fuck about black people until he was indicted, he never gave a fuck.”
“The problem is that we should never have a reason to talk about him again. We certainly shouldn’t celebrate OJ Simpson. I’m sorry. Not when two people were about to be decapitated and he was the prime suspect.”
Stephen A. Smith slammed BET Awards organizers for their decision to honor OJ Simpson
Simpson, who became one of America’s most infamous figures after being charged with the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Brown and her friend Goldman and then acquitted in the trial of the century, appeared onscreen as part of the show’s In Memoriam segment.
Simpson died two months ago of prostate cancer at the age of 76, and was honored on screen as a “former NFL player,” with some applause when his face appeared.
However, the decision to honour the convicted felon – who also spent nine years in a Nevada jail in 2008 after being convicted of 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping – was criticised by the families of Brown and Goldman and left viewers “disgusted” and outraged.
Ron’s father, Fred Goldman, said: TMZ‘I don’t think they should include anyone of that calibre – a wife beater, a murderer… I can’t imagine why they would include someone like that.’
Despite a successful NFL career, Simpson was best known for his acquittal following his high-profile 1995 murder trial, 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.
Fred Goldman (center), father of Ronald Goldman, his daughter Kim (left) and his wife Patty are pictured at the trial in 1994. Fred said: I don’t think they should include anybody of that caliber – a wife beater, murderer… I can’t imagine why they would include somebody like that.
He was charged with the deaths of Brown and Goldman, who were found brutally stabbed to death outside their Los Angeles home.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest were equally lurid, with the former NFL star which led police on a low-speed chase after learning of the impending charges.
Millions of people tuned in to watch Simpson’s white Ford Bronco chase for a 90-minute ride across Southern California.
The athlete crouched in the back with a gun while his friend Al Cowlings drove, before his eventual arrest in Brentwood.
His sporting and film stardom would be overshadowed by his arrest for the murder of Brown and Goldman. Pictured: Simpson in Los Angeles Superior Court in December 1994
Viewers were left ‘disgusted’ and outraged by the segment on Sunday’s BET Awards.
At trial, prosecutors argued that Simpson was linked to the crime scene through forensic evidence.
In one now infamous moment, Simpson had to struggle to try on a pair of black gloves believed to have been worn by the killer. One of the gloves was found at the crime scene and the other near Simpson’s mansion.
Prosecutors said the alleged killer acted out of jealousy toward his then ex-wife.
“He killed Nicole for one reason only,” 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 have her.” Despite the evidence, Simpson was acquitted.