logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
18m 6s

The Life and Death of OJ Simpson

BBC News
About this episode

Orenthal James Simpson, known to the world as OJ, lived many lives. First as one of the greatest ever running backs in the history of the NFL, then as a Hollywood movie star.

His fame skyrocketed, however, when he was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The ensuing ‘trial of the century’ gripped and divided the nation.

As the news broke, the team interrupted their normal recording to relive the shocking events of his life, trial, and acquittal. Anthony, who was then living in LA, recalls the backdrop of racial tension that underpinned the murder case that gripped the US.

HOSTS: * Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Or use #Americast

Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo, and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Up next
Yesterday
Can Trump turn a Gaza ceasefire into a lasting peace deal?
There was an extraordinary moment at the White House on Wednesday when, in front of reporters, secretary of state Marco Rubio handed Donald Trump a note that read the words “very close”, followed by a whisper where he told the president that Israel and Hamas were on the brink of ... Show More
20 m
Oct 8
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Is Chicago really a ‘war zone’?
Donald Trump’s mission to target Democrat-led cities has expanded to Illinois after the Texan National Guard arrived on Tuesday at an army base near Chicago. Troops were sent with the blessing of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, prompting a furious response from Illinois Governor JB P ... Show More
28m 30s
Oct 6
Why is Trump blowing up Venezuelan "drug boats"?
In today’s episode, we look at some of the stories “under the radar”, away from the main news headlines in the United States. Why is the Trump administration blowing up boats which it says are carrying drugs from Venezuela to the United States? Donald Trump has described the late ... Show More
32m 22s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
OJ Simpson dies – the story of his complex legacy
The death of arguably one of America’s most talked about names in the 1990s has re-ignited conversations about who OJ Simpson was and how he will be remembered.   The former NFL star was tried and acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald ... Show More
23m 15s
Apr 2024
O.J. Simpson: The legacy?
OJ Simpson’s murder trial divided America.His death from cancer at the age of 76 last week has had much the same effect.The former NFL star was notoriously acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. A civil jury later found him liable.Many believe ... Show More
34m 27s
Feb 2022
O.J. Simpson
One of our most requested topics ever, we give you just the gist of O.J. Simpson, the murder of his wife wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, the Bronco chase, the crazy trial (including THAT glove), and where exactly Simpson ended up. This is a big story people, so we've b ... Show More
1h 10m
Oct 2022
The People vs. O.J. Simpson: What the Jury Never Heard
In this Dateline classic, Josh Mankiewicz sits down with O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark and other key players and witnesses from the criminal trial that consumed and divided a nation more than a quarter century ago.Additional footage: KCOP-TV, Los Angeles, CAAlso listen to ... Show More
1h 22m
Jun 2023
Stephen Lawrence: The 6th Suspect
How the BBC uncovered a new suspect in the Stephen Lawrence murder.Adam speaks to home affairs correspondent Daniel De Simone who has spent the last two years looking into the police investigation into the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence - the UK's most notorious racist killing. ... Show More
25m 18s
Oct 2019
The OJ Simpson Verdict | 7
On this episode of History of the 90s we are looking back at one particular day in 1995 that was the climax of a trial that gripped the public’s attention. October 3rd marks 24 years since 95 million people watched live on TV as the verdicts were read in the OJ Simpson Murder Tri ... Show More
45m 11s
Jan 2020
The Murder Trial of OJ Simpson - 25 Years Later
The OJ Simpson murder trial is arguably one of the most intriguing cases in modern criminal history. Over 25 years later, and no one’s really sure exactly what happened to OJ’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman on the night of June 12, 1994. OJ Simpson was ... Show More
1h 10m