Critics Tackle O.J. 'True Crime' Book

Simpson Book And TV Special Ellicit Storm Of Protest, Even From Within Fox Empire

(CBS/AP)  The widely-condemned O.J. Simpson book and Fox TV special, in which the former football star speculates how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend, has been met with particularly loud criticism from commentators for the Fox News Channel, which is owned by Ruper Murdoch's News Corporation — which also owns the Fox television network and HarperCollins, the publisher of the new book.

Mark Fuhrman, a former LAPD detective who testified during the Simpson trial and who is now a commentator for Fox News, lashed out at the book and TV show. "This is entertainment? Is this the lowest form of reality TV? What kind of people would do this? I have no idea, but I have no respect for anybody who would engage this man in anything except maybe a knife fight."

Geraldo Rivera, who covered the Simpson trial in 1994 and later joined Fox News, called the Simpson book "disgusting."

"I think he's demonstrating that he made a fool of the jury in Los Angeles and all of the black community across the country that supported him," Rivera said.

Bill O'Reilly, whose "The O'Reilly Factor" is the highest-rated show on Fox News, also decried the Simpson book and special. "If every American walked away from the O.J. garbage, it wouldn't happen," he said.

O'Reilly made sure to point out that his show and the Fox News Channel have "nothing to do with the Simpson situation."

Meanwhile, one of the nation's largest superstore chains, Borders Group Inc., expects Simpson's new book to have "strong sales," but will donate profits to charity.

The nation's other large bookstore chain, Barnes & Noble, Inc., will also sell Simpson's "If I Did It" — but has no plans to donate proceeds.

"Barnes & Noble will carry O.J. Simpson's new book, 'If I Did It,' just as we do every book in print," spokeswoman Mary Ellen Keating said Friday in a statement. Keating said Barnes & Noble had not seen the book and did not know how it would be promoted.

Bill Nasshan, Borders' senior vice president of adult trade merchandising, said in a statement: "As always with publicity books like this, we prepare for strong sales, but ultimately it is up to the customers' reaction to the publicity."

Borders spokeswoman Ann Binkley said Friday that the book will have "easily visible" placement in stores, but there would be no special promotion and any profits will be donated to a charity that benefits victims of domestic violence.

"We believe it's the right thing to do. Period," Binkley said.

Numerous independent stores, appalled by Simpson's book, have said either they won't sell it or will offer limited copies and give away the proceeds.

"We probably won't stock the book, but if somebody comes and asks for it, we'll order it for them and then donate the money," said Lise Friedman, manager of Dutton's Brentwood Books, located in the Los Angeles County community where Simpson lived at the time of the murders.

"If I Did It" comes out Nov. 30, following a two-part interview on Fox, and interest appears strong but not overwhelming. Since the book's announcement late Tuesday, it has steadily climbed on the best seller list of Amazon.com, reaching No. 20 as of Friday afternoon.

According to an official of the Mystery Writers of America, Simpson's book will essentially be treated as "true crime," a genre that traditionally sells best at superstores, with independent sellers preferring purely fictional works. Reed Farrell Coleman, executive vice president of MWA, also said independent stores had more reason to worry about anger against the Simpson book.

"An independent store depends more on a faithful clientele, which it can't afford to offend. Superstores are more likely simply to respond to public demand," Coleman said.

Victims' relatives are angry at the planned publication of the book in which Simpson discusses how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend "if I did it."

"He destroyed my son and took from my family Ron's future and life. And for that I'll hate him always and find him despicable," Fred Goldman said in an interview broadcast Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murder in the 1994 killings of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman after a trial that became a source of national racial tension. He was later found liable for the deaths in a wrongful-death suit filed by the Goldman family but has failed to pay the $33.5 million judgment.

Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, accused publisher Judith Regan of "promoting the wrongdoing of criminals" and commercializing abuse.

She added: "It's unfortunate that Simpson has decided to awaken a nightmare that we have painfully endured and worked so hard to move beyond."

On Friday, publisher Judith Regan of ReganBooks, a HarperCollins imprint, said she took on "If I Did It" because she was a victim of domestic violence and thought any proceeds would go to Simpson's children.

In an eight-page statement, Regan said Simpson approached her with the idea for the book, in which he hypothesizes how he would have committed the killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.

"I didn't know what to expect when I got the call that the killer wanted to confess," Regan said in the statement titled "Why I Did It." "But I knew one thing. I wanted the confession for my own selfish reasons and for the symbolism of that act. For me, it was personal."

Although Regan has acknowledged that Simpson does not directly say he killed the pair, she said she considers the book to be his confession.

"My son is now 25 years old, my daughter 15," the publisher said in her statement. "I wanted them, and everyone else, to have a chance to see that there are consequences to grievous acts. ... And I wanted, as so many victims do, to hear him say, 'I did it and I am sorry.'

"I didn't know if he would. But I wanted to try. I wanted his confession."

Regan, known for such tabloid best sellers as Jose Canseco's "Juiced," said she did not pay Simpson for the book. "I contracted through a third party who owns the rights, and I was told the money would go to his children. That much I could live with.

"What I wanted was closure, not money," she wrote.

Regan will interview the former football star in a two-part, sweeps-month showcase on Fox Television Nov. 27 and 29. The interview is billed as a hypothetical discussion of how Simpson might have killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994.

"You know, I'm curious about what O.J. Simpson has to say, too, but, I wanted to hear it on the witness stand," said Sara Nelson, Editor in Chief of the trade magazine Publishers Weekly. "I don't want to pay 20-odd dollars to hear it. I don't want to pay him 2 cents to hear it."

[b4815]

BOYCOTT this piece of trash!!!!!!!!

[olebd]

This is SO not necessary.

Why O.J.? Why are you doing this? For the money? For the publicity? Or could it be some sick technique to ease your conscience?

[creeper00]

I'll second that motion.

[jmann27273]

We have to remember, this man was found innocent, whether you personally believe it is true or not. He has every right to try to earn a living, as hard as the media and the public try to make it for him. I hope someday the authorities can get their act together and prove the facts one way another.

[bob_burd]

Boy, he must be desperate for cash. I wonder how much his kids hate him?

The 12 accomplices he groomed on the black jury who knowingly let him off the hook (to teach Whitey a lesson) should rot in hell with him.

Selah

[observantx]

Fox network has sunk to a new low. This is having to jump up just to touch the bottom. This trash you would expect to find in the supermarket checkout line tabloids. Disgusting.

[gusmcray]

Ahh, OJ,,, you are a true scum bag. Anyone who thinks you are innocent is either an imbecile or , may I say it? racist.

[mjt3c]

Is the Goldman family going to get the proceeds from the book and interview? Or has the dirt bag found a loop hole to prevent having to pay on the civil judgment?

[baber1961]

he was and is still guilty of these crimes no matter what the court said. He should be made to give all the profits he makes off this book to his children and to the families of Nicole and Ron.

[delta5243]

hahahahahaha "if I did it" thanks for the laugh O.J. I can't usually do it this early in the morning

[inspire411]

OJ is a piece of scum. The proceeds from this book sale (if there ARE any sales) should go to the Ron and Nicole's families

[bbol2]

O.J. in the "what if" scenario seems to be a case of needing to be in the celebrity spotlight. Just like the athelete that does not know when to retire, he does't know when to stay hidden. Probably also needs the cash.

[jetlizhan]

Every time this murderer needs some cash, he'll do stuff like this - PLEASE AMERICA DON'T BUY THIS *** BOOK!!! If I did it - MY BUTT - maybe in his later years, he actually wants the truth to come out?? If you'll notice, before he murdered Nicole and Ron, he was a fairly nice looking guy; and now, ugh, he's downright ugly. That's what sin, sin, sin does to a person. His ugliness is straight from the devil himself. Please let any monies from this ridiculous book go to the Goldmans.

[oleander8]

Shame on whatever media gives time and/or space to this individual.

[jetlizhan]

hey jmann - tell your opinion to Jesus when and if you're standing at the gates of Heaven. That ought to be Heaven's joke of the day.

[jetlizhan]

jh6379:

Guilty!!

if you don't believe this in your heart of hearts - you're a pathetic idiot

[ajaxrose1]

As a mother I feel so sorry for his kids. All of this mess has to have been harder for them than anyone else.

At least on Fox they won't treat him like anything other than he is: a killer.

[b4815]

He should be on death row.

[cryonbrian]

Get over it America! OJ used the same juducial system that America touts is so great. Hey the guy beat the system so get over it. He went to trial and won fair and square! Get over it and move on! America has worst problems that to debate OJ! LOL

[sue1sey]

I wonder if OJ will be giving his children copies of the book for Christmas? I wish he would just go to another country to live so we would never have to hear about him again. Shame on the California justice system for messing up and letting this guy go.

[heresmy2cent]

It's November "sweeps" month for the TV industry.

No depth is too low to drop for a boost in TV ratings.

Maybe Fox TV could do an hour special on Monica Lewinsky's (remember her?) *** stained dress. The ratings would go through the roof!

[kalatur]

OJ, desparate for money, insults our intelligence. Or maybe we will buy his product, the same way we buy reality shows showing people eating worms. Barnum gave us freaks and got rich. Fox is PT of the 21st century.

[lucybrown143]

As a C-list celebrity, with a double homicide under his belt, I'm surprised OJ hasn't come out with a book sooner. It was just a matter of time before he would boast his story to the public and gleefully provoke the victims' families, considering the high-profile crime he had gotten away with... Hypothetically speaking, that is.

[kalatur]

OJ used the legal system. Why can't Goldman use it to get the money he deserves?

[lucybrown143]

As a C-list celebrity, with a double homicide under his belt, I'm surprised OJ hasn't come out with a book sooner. It was just a matter of time before he would boast his story to the public and gleefully provoke the victims' families, considering the high-profile crime he had gotten away with... Hypothetically speaking, that is.

[lucybrown143]

As a C-list celebrity, with a double homicide under his belt, I'm surprised OJ hasn't come out with a book sooner. It was just a matter of time before he would boast his story to the public and gleefully provoke the victims' families, considering the high-profile crime he had gotten away with... Hypothetically speaking, that is.

[pima6]

what a class act.

[gwagener]

I saw an old episode of Seinfeld recently. Elane had a boyfriend who happended to have the same name a serial killer Joal Rifkin. She wanted him to change his name so she could avoid teasing. She suggested several name and one was O.J. Rifkin. This episode was before the murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman.
The writer must have been psycic.
I tried to think of a worse choise and all I could come up with is Saddam Rifkin or Adolf Rifkin.

[connapa]

That $3.5M should go to the Goldmans'. They should in turn, donate the proceeds to charity.

[agnim]

"OJ used the legal system. Why can't Goldman use it (much touted US 'justice system') to get the money he deserves?"

Maybe the gold man is not getting any gold because he already got his comeuppance FOR MESSING WITH ANOTHER MAN'S WOMAN!

Always a risky affair to steal from another man, Kalatur

[dunkenhms]

This book discusts me. I could not imagine having a family member brutally murdered and then have the number 1 suspect right a book on how he/she would have done it. It almost seems like a fantasy- or maybe he's just gloating in the fact that he got away. If this book does make any money I think the funds should go to the Goldman family. The courts will garnish wages for anything else- why isn't OJ being held to the same standards?

[pmblues]

The prosecuters in the Simpson trial could have had an actual video of O.J. committing the murders and he still would have walked. That jury had no intention from day one of convicting O.J. Simpson of murder. They ignored the evidence, they ignored the truth and they let a guilty man get away with murder. I think that says a lot about how the justice system in the great USA works....or rather, how it doesn't work. Read John Grisholm's latest novel, The Innocent Man, and I think you will see proof of that fact, beyond a reasonable doubt.

[rchan4]

Why does OJ Simpson continue to make a fool of himself. He knows he's a murderer and so do we. Doesn't he care anything about his kids. He keeps dragging them thru the muck. I feel really bad for them. We love his kids, even if he doesn't.

[agnim]

dunkenhms

You are joking, right?

First you stated that OJ is merely the 'number one suspect'.
And yet you want him to give his money to the family of a WIFE STEALER? Tsk-tsk.

[i_am_emac]

3 reasons OJ didnt get convicted.

1. Never found the murder weapon
2. Mark Furman, may not be a racist, but certainly an idiot
3. DA was inept

[agnim]

The outrage should be about the second/racist trial and the subsequent persecution of OJ.

This after he has always maintained his INNOCENCE and WAS PROVED INNOCENT!

[agnim]

i_am_emac


How about OJ 'didn't get convicted' because HE IS INNOCENT!

[cathaleen]

First, how can he embarrass his children like this and second "is he insane".
I think all that cocaine got to him. If not I guess it's a guilty conscience talking.

[jenniferfry]

Why on Earth are you giving this killer any kind of coverage?? He wants attention and anyone who buys his *** is just as miserable as he is!

[i_am_emac]

it is bullsh8t that he got off in criminal court, only be awarded that crazy judgment against him in civil court. For a guy who lost his son, it was really hard to think of Goldman as anything but a total @hole!

[davc8t]

Anyone that is so BOLD,CREEPY,and INSENSITIVE enough to use peoples death and grief to gain wealth ,and fame has got to be absolutely sick,crazy,and GUILTY!!! BUT WHO AM I TO JUDGE???

[lek2006-2009]

The Los Angeles jury that set O J Simpson free could have not done anything other than what it did or Los Angeles would have burned to the ground, without a doubt. And now the man who committed two murders and got off scott-free is going to be able to tell "how I would have done it, IF I had done it" and profit from it? Folks, there is something seriously wrong with this and if he is allowed to profit from the murder of his ex wife and her friend, the American justice system has failed, once again, and failed miserably, once again. That the man and his audacious behavior is being promoted should be a crime in itself.

[evansjtwo]

That OJ should write, or allow to be written, this book/interview is absolutely amazing. It%u2019s like the old SNL, where they would have a commercial that wasn%u2019t real but it took you a few minutes to figure it out.

Is Mr. Simpson in such a bad financial position that he must resort to this type of shock fiction (or is it?). Who in their right mind would want to read something like this?

It is unfortunately, another indicator of the depletion of social values/continence we have in today%u2019s society. I am extremely disappointed that a publisher or a television network think this is what we want to see/hear.

I will not purchase the book, I will lobby my local library to make sure that this volume available is NOT available, and I will no longer watch Fox (and as a die hard Simpson%u2019s fan it%u2019s going to be tough).

[charlieot]

There is another angle to this. If I were a prosecutor or police officer, I'd be looking forward to the release of this book. If OJ did commit the murders, suppose he lets slip a detail or two in the book that could lead to new charges. Obviously, he can't be retried in state court, but there is plenty of precedent for federal charges to be filed if new evidence arises that can lead to federal prosecution.
Certainly the release of this book is shameless, but who knows what may come from its release.

[2blockpops]

When it is assumed a black person has committed a crime, he/she is guilty before proven innocent. OJs only crime is that he likes white women, and they always get him in trouble. None of you critics were around that I know of when those people were killed. Therefore, you cannot attest to what happened. Leave OJ alone, and let him live his life. He doesn't owe anyone a thing. Also, to Katie Couric, "you are not his judge and jury." Stop wearing your feelings on your sleeves. Leave the man alone. Stop with the hatred!!

[ssporleder]

The money he makes is SUPPOSED to go to the family of those slaughtered, so what is the egotisitcal maniac's reason for doing this?
Hopefully nobody will buy it/support it.

[arthurcl1]

Poor O.J. He needs money again so now he has to write a book and speak about it some more. He is guilty as sin as an obsessed jealous ex husband could be! He should have been tried in Santa Barbara Courthouse where Michael Jackson was tried and he would have been found GUILTY.

[apdepetris]

I think whether or not he murdered them is irrelevant in this case. In any context this book is just tasteless. This guy just makes me sick. "I didn't do it, but if I had, this is what I would have done" - are you kidding me. Who writes a book like this? He just trying to get 15 more minutes in the spotlight and make some money. And to find out that he has never paid any money on the civil suit after a decade! They should definately sieze any money that he earns from this book and put it towards the civil suit award. I hope they don't sell too many copies of this book but you know there are always those people that just can't help but slow down to look at a car wreck.

[brijarjo3]

Regardless of anyone's opinion whether negative or positive in these United States, it's called "freedom of speech" whether orally or written.

[2blockpops]

Take a vote with blacks and whites, and you will see how many blacks feel OJ is innocent. How many blacks are sitting in prison because of someone having a "feeling" that the person was guilty. The case is "Guilty While Black." Trust me, I have lived in a white area most of my life, and I get this all the time. Thus, I know how it is. I see white people rushing back to the car to make sure it is locked, because you see someone black. It bothers me, but that's life. I say this to say that I am tired of the problems OJ has when he tries to make a living. You also help him while disliking him, by having him on your shows, which I am sure are not freebies. I say to CBS, talk to real people. I have never been actually called to take a "poll." Ask me and other blacks their opinions regarding OJ Simpson.