O.J. Simpson Won’t Have Public Memorial After Cremation, per Attorney

Adam WellsApril 17, 2024

Jason Bean/Pool via Bloomberg

O.J. Simpson won’t have a public memorial after his death on April 10 at the age of 76 from prostate cancer, his attorney said.

Malcolm LaVergne, who is in charge of Simpson’s estate, told the Associated Press that the Pro Football Hall of Famer was cremated Wednesday.

“I am able to verify that O.J. Simpson was cremated today,” LaVergne said. “Others were present, but I’m not disclosing who.”

LaVergne went on to say that Simpson’s children will be given his cremains to “to do with as they please,” which is in accordance with Simpson’s wishes.

“You have to remember that they’ve shared O.J. with the world their entire lives,” LaVergne explained. “They have the added burden that he is one of the most famous people on the planet, and who is polarizing and who is surrounded by controversy.”

Simpson was at one point among the most famous athletes in the United States. He won a national title in 1967 and Heisman Trophy in 1968 at USC before playing 11 seasons in the NFL from 1969 to ’79.

On Oct. 3, 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, following a 252-day trial. He was found liable for their deaths in a civil trial and ordered to pay more $33 million to their families.

Simpson was convicted and sentenced to up to 33 years in prison on 12 charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping, stemming from a 2007 incident related to robbing a memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas.

In 2017, Simpson was paroled with certain conditions. His parole ended and he was discharged in December 2021.