By Cousin Kim
In the infamous 1994 criminal trial, OJ Simpson was found innocent of the murders on Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In 1997 the Brown and Goldman families were awarded 33.5 million in a civil trial. None of that money has been collected until now.
Last week, OJ Simpson's book, "If I Did It", was released. The book, whose publication was cancelled by Rupert Murdoch last year amidst public protest, resurfaced this year. Originally, Simpson's children, including those with Nicole as well as his daughter Arnelle from a previous marriage, were shareholders in the book and stood to receive twenty five percent of the profits generated from book sales. OJ Simpson formed a corporation in his children's names allegedly to avoid paying the Goldman and Brown families.
According to Denise Brown, Sydney & Justin, ages 22 and 19, only knew that the book was a work of fiction, but did not know its contents.
The Goldman family, who now have the rights to the book are publishing it and will receive ninety percent of the profit from the sales of the book. According to Fred Goldman, father of Ron Goldman, this amounts to about seventeen cents per book profit. The Goldmans contributed a chapter of their own to the book. In an interview with Oprah, Goldman called the book a confession, in contrast to last year when called the book a "manual for murder."
One can't help but wonder if this "about-face" has anything to do with the probability of profit from the book as Denise Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, insinuated in her one on one interview with Oprah. Refusing to appear onstage with the Goldmans, Denise Brown called profit from the book "blood money." She also revealed that the estate of Sidney and Justin, the children of Nicole Brown Simpson, was suing OJ Simpson for forty percent of the proceeds of the book. Nicole's father is the executor of the estate. Denise described her sister as an amazing mom who would give you the shirt off her back. This is in stark contrast to the alleged characterization of Nicole in the book as a drug-addicted slut. Since her sister's murder, Brown has dedicated herself to fighting domestic violence.
In the infamous 1994 criminal trial, OJ Simpson was found innocent of the murders on Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In 1997 the Brown and Goldman families were awarded 33.5 million in a civil trial. None of that money has been collected until now.
Last week, OJ Simpson's book, "If I Did It", was released. The book, whose publication was cancelled by Rupert Murdoch last year amidst public protest, resurfaced this year. Originally, Simpson's children, including those with Nicole as well as his daughter Arnelle from a previous marriage, were shareholders in the book and stood to receive twenty five percent of the profits generated from book sales. OJ Simpson formed a corporation in his children's names allegedly to avoid paying the Goldman and Brown families.
According to Denise Brown, Sydney & Justin, ages 22 and 19, only knew that the book was a work of fiction, but did not know its contents.
The Goldman family, who now have the rights to the book are publishing it and will receive ninety percent of the profit from the sales of the book. According to Fred Goldman, father of Ron Goldman, this amounts to about seventeen cents per book profit. The Goldmans contributed a chapter of their own to the book. In an interview with Oprah, Goldman called the book a confession, in contrast to last year when called the book a "manual for murder."
One can't help but wonder if this "about-face" has anything to do with the probability of profit from the book as Denise Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, insinuated in her one on one interview with Oprah. Refusing to appear onstage with the Goldmans, Denise Brown called profit from the book "blood money." She also revealed that the estate of Sidney and Justin, the children of Nicole Brown Simpson, was suing OJ Simpson for forty percent of the proceeds of the book. Nicole's father is the executor of the estate. Denise described her sister as an amazing mom who would give you the shirt off her back. This is in stark contrast to the alleged characterization of Nicole in the book as a drug-addicted slut. Since her sister's murder, Brown has dedicated herself to fighting domestic violence.
Oprah was clear in her assertion that she was not promoting this book as she has in the past with other books through "Oprah's Book Club". She said that she would not buy it nor read it. In contrast Christopher Darden, a member of the prosecution team during the OJ trial, said that although he was torn between the views of the Brown family and the Goldman family, t he would buy several copies if it would help the Goldmans profit. Marcia Clark, barely recognizable with blond hair and some questionable cosmetic surgery , agreed with Christopher Darden's view and said that she would never forgive herself for failing to obtain justice for the Brown and Goldman families.
Lady O defended our first amendment rights and welcomed viewers to do what their conscience dictated in regards to purchasing and reading the book. She wished peace for the Browns and the Goldmans; a peace which Kim Goldman, Ron's sister, said would never be possible for the victims' families.