A few months after his death, controversial figure O.J. Simpson was memorialized at the BET Awards 2024.
During the show's 'In Memoriam' segment, Simpson, who died in April after a battle with prostate cancer, was given a nod as "Former NFL Player," which some attendees uncomfortably laughed at.
On social media, the response was even worse, with some taking the moment as disrespectful since Simpson went to trial for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman in 1992. O.J. spent decades denying having any involvement in Simpson's murder, although he was ordered to pay Brown Simpson's and Goldman's families more than $33 million following his murder trial. According to the Los Angeles Times, the amount ultimately went unpaid.
Among others who were mentioned during the BET segment were Clarence Avant, Ron Cephas Jones, Rudolph Isley, Irish Grinstead, Richard Roundtree, Louis Gossett Jr. and more, but the families of Brown Simpson and Goldman slammed the network for honoring Simpson.
"It's inappropriate to give an abuser and murderer recognition." Nicole's sister, Tanya, told TMZ.
"I think they shouldn’t include anyone of that caliber — a wife beater, murderer … can’t imagine why they would include someone like that," stated Goldman's father, Fred.
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