The Shocking Confession of O.J. Simpson: A Look Back at the Infamous Book and Interview
In 1995, O.J. Simpson pleaded not guilty to the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. Despite being acquitted by a jury, Simpson more or less confessed to the crimes in a bizarre 2007 book titled “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.”
The book, purchased for publication by ReganBooks, an imprint of HarperCollins, was surrounded by controversy. The parent company, News Corp, faced backlash for supporting the publication. The book’s release was eventually shelved, and the publisher, Judith Regan, lost her job.
Negotiations for the book included a requirement for Simpson to conduct a television interview to promote it. The interview, conducted by Barbara Walters, was set to take place in Miami. However, due to public outcry, the project was scrapped, and ABC backed out.
Regan, determined to get the truth out of Simpson, conducted her own interview with him in South Florida. During the interview, Simpson discussed the events leading up to the murders and presented himself as a victim driven to the brink by his ex-wife’s behavior.
Simpson’s account of the murders included details that aligned with the prosecution’s narrative. He claimed to have gone to Nicole’s house to confront her about her behavior, leading to a confrontation that ended in bloodshed. Simpson even mentioned an accomplice named “Charlie,” a detail that raised eyebrows as no evidence of an accomplice was found at the crime scene.
Despite Simpson’s lack of remorse during the interview, Regan believed she had finally gotten the truth out of him. However, the interview never aired, and plans to publish the book were scrapped.
Years later, the Goldman family obtained control of the book and released it through an independent publishing house. The earnings from the book were one of the few sources of income the family received from Simpson.
Regan, who was fired from News Corp amid the controversy, was surprised when representatives from Fox called to say they were going to air the interview. She agreed to appear on a panel discussing the confession, calling it a portrait of a sociopath.
The saga of O.J. Simpson’s confession continues to captivate audiences, shedding light on a dark chapter in American history.
