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Earlier this year, former NFL running back, actor, and widely suspected murderer Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson passed away at the age of 76 years old.
Given that it was widely assumed that O.J. Simpson committed the double murder of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman in 1994, Simpson’s death was largely celebrated by virtually everyone who knew who he was.
On Sunday night at the annual BET Awards, however, the network instead paid tribute to Simpson’s life by including him in the ceremony’s “In Memoriam” section, which obviously went viral on social media.
lol OJ Simpson in memoriam for anything is WILD no matter how you slice it. https://t.co/WsiCVxCsHk pic.twitter.com/X8ric45Lv6
— Anna (@itsafronomics) July 1, 2024
The decision by BET to include Simpson in the program’s “In Memoriam” reel shouldn’t be entirely surprising given that Simpson’s infamous trial and acquittal were inextricably tied to race relations in the 1990s.
In recent years, however, studies have shown that the percentage of the African American population who believes Simpson was guilty has grown.
“In two recent polls, more than 50 percent of black respondents said they thought Simpson was guilty — up from about 20 percent in most polls before, during and right after the trial.”
“Why the shift? Developments in the murder trial and events in Simpson’s life probably have played a role. Changes in demographics and race relations may also have contributed to shifting black opinion about the case.” [via FiveThirtyEight]
The 2024 BET Awards were full of headline-making moments, such as Will Smith debuting his new single “You Can Make It” and Megan Thee Stallion’s viral show-opening set.
Megan Thee Stallion Full BET Performance pic.twitter.com/hkz9funXx4
— lil m3gan 🧡 (@lolm3gan) July 1, 2024
While Simpson was acquitted of the murder charges, he did eventually serve time in prison as he was arrested and convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping in 2007. Despite being sentenced to 33 years in prison, however, Simpson was released on parole in 2017 after serving nine years.
Prior to becoming a disgraced and assumed murderer, Simpson was named NFL MVP in 1973 and starred in films such as The Towering Inferno and the three Naked Gun movies.