OJ Simpson (Photo by Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images)
Two weeks ago, OJ Simpson passed away at the age of 76 following a battle with prostate cancer. The former Buffalo Bills star had announced in May 2023 that he was undergoing treatment for the cancer.

OJ Simpson’s death has been highly publicized because of the complicated legacy he leaves behind. Countless folks grew up idolizing the Hall of Famer and “Naked Gun” movie star in the ’70s and ’80s Simpson’s legacy was forever tainted when he was arrested and charged for the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Lyle Goldman, in 1994.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders in 1995, but he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil trial. Simpson was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the families of Brown and Goldman.

British filmmaker Joshua Newton is directing a film called “The Juice” which will center around the relationship between OJ and Nicole. Charlotte Kirk has already been confirmed as the star portraying Nicole.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Newton revealed that “Zoolander” and “Wedding Crashers” star Owen Wilson turned down $12 million to portray real-life attorney Douglas McCann. According to Newton, the reason is that Wilson is not keen on playing in a controversial film that will depict Simpson as an innocent man:

“Owen Wilson was perfect for the role. I actually had a meeting with him in Santa Monica. Everybody loved the script. His agent wanted him to do it. We offered him $12 million. But at the end of the lunch, Owen stood up and said, ‘If you think I’m going to take the lead role in a movie about how O.J. didn’t do it, you’ve got to be kidding me.’”

For Better Or Worse, OJ Simpson Will Never Be Forgotten

After serving almost nine years in prison for armed robbery in Nevada, Simpson was paroled in the summer of 2017. Simpson went great lengths to ensure that he somehow stayed in the spotlight, even in his final years.

Simpson continued to make public appearances and frequently posted strange videos on X/Twitter as a way to communicate with fans. As long as Simpson was gaining attention and being talked about, he was happy.

It’s been almost 30 years since Simpson was acquitted, but nobody is going to forget the complicated legacy he leaves behind. Even after his death, Simpson will always be a controversial talking point in sports and entertainment.