Sunday night’s BET Awards featured OJ Simpson in its In Memorium segment, sparking a strong reaction from audiences and viewers alike.
The longtime NFL player was honored at the annual awards show after dying from prostate cancer on April 10.
6
6
OJ was famously tried for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in 1995.
The murder trial lasted eight months, with OJ eventually being freed of any criminal charges.
Actress Tia Mowry performed In Memoriam as a tribute to the “Black excellence we have sadly lost this year” during Sunday’s BET Awards.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye to those who influence us, but we can take a moment to celebrate and recognize their contributions to culture,” he added.
DOUBLE TAKE
However, when OJ’s face appeared on the screen during the segment, the audience seemed shocked by his inclusion.
Viewers also shared their thoughts on social media, with some even claiming they wanted to change the channel after seeing her photo.
“I still can’t believe how much people in the audience laughed when OJ’s photo appeared in the RIP section at the betting awards, he also had the biggest crowd,” wrote one person on X, formerly Twitter.
“Wait, OJ? At the BET Awards? That’s unexpected,” wrote a second.
“Ngl.. I almost changed the channel when OJ Simpson came on screen during that in memoriam at the Bet Awards 2024. Like, no…. He should have been excluded,” admitted a third.
“They’re… celebrating oj at the bet awards?!?!?!” a fourth questioned.
“I’m still dead, they added OJ Simpson to the tribute like only betting prizes would do that,” wrote another.
OJ died at age 76 and was said to be “content” as he was surrounded by family before he passed away.
The former NFL star was discreetly cremated in Las Vegas shortly afterward.
OJ is considered one of the greatest running backs in history. During his career, he triumphed with both the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers.
He became a well-paid sports commentator after his retirement in 1979.
Inside the infamous police chase of OJ Simpson
On June 17, 1994, OJ Simpson led Los Angeles police on a slow, 90-minute chase through Southern California. Simpson was in the back of his Ford Bronco, which was driven by his friend and former Bills teammate AC Cowlings, with a gun in his hands, threatening to commit suicide.
Two days earlier, his wife Nicole Brown, 35, and her friend Ron Goldman, 25, were found brutally stabbed to death outside their Los Angeles condominium.
After collecting evidence from the scene, including bloody gloves from the crime, police pressed charges against Simpson, and he was scheduled to turn himself in at 11 a.m. on June 17.
However, he did not appear at the police station and authorities began looking for him.
Simpson’s defense attorney, Ben Shapiro, gave detectives the address where he was hiding, but responding officers discovered he had fled.
The former NFL star was declared a fugitive and a massive search was launched for him and his friend Al Cowlings, with whom he fled.
Hours after the search began, Simpson called 911 from his cellphone while driving his white Ford Bronco, allowing police to track his location.
At approximately 6:00 p.m. local time, the low-speed chase began and continued along I-5 in Orange County, California.
The chase was broadcast live by news outlets and horrified viewers across the country were glued to their television screens to see what would happen next.
Domino’s Pizza had its best day yet as families were too busy watching to prepare any dinner.
At around 9pm the same day, Simpson led police to his Brentwood property.
After a tense standoff, he surrendered and was taken to the Los Angeles County Jail.
OJ MURDER TRIAL
Things changed for the athlete following his trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole, 35, and Ron, 25.
The two were found stabbed to death in Nicole’s Los Angeles condominium on June 13, 1994.
A few days later, OJ led police on a two-hour car chase through Los Angeles after refusing to stop, which was broadcast live on TV.
OJ, who was a passenger in the car and had a gun drawn, was arrested despite denying any involvement in the murders.
His trial became one of the best-known criminal hearings in U.S. legal history and was the first of its kind to be televised.
OJ also had a connection to the Kardashians, as Rob Kardashian Sr., who died in 2003, served as one of his lawyers at the trial.
6
6
6
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
