Goldmans: Public Outcry Nixed O.J. Deal

Book, Fox Interview Would Have Detailed Murders; Brown Family Says Bribe Was Offered

(CBS/AP)  After taking hits from all sides, News Corp. finally pulled the plug on what was being billed as a "confession" — a book called "If I Did It" and an accompanying TV special on Fox in which former football great O.J. Simpson described how the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman, might have occurred — if he had committed them.

"I wish it never had to happen to begin with," Fred Goldman told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. "I think it was ... a bad decision and, fortunately, we have the result that we do."

"I'm sad we had to come to this point, but I'm thrilled that the country got behind us and stood for what was right and that this is not something we want to have on our televisions and bookshelves to glorify crime," said Kim Goldman, Ron Goldman's sister. "We're thankful the country stood up and raised their voices."

The O.J. Simpson book saga took another twist later Tuesday when his former sister-in-law, Denise Brown, accused the media company behind the project of trying to buy her family's silence for "millions of dollars."

A spokesman for News Corp. confirmed that the company had conversations with representatives of Nicole Brown Simpson's and Ron Goldman's families over the past week and that the families were offered all profits from the planned Simpson book and television show, but he denied that it was hush money.

"There were no strings attached," News Corp. spokesman Andrew Butcher said.

Simpson was found not guilty of the murders in 1995. His ex-wife and Goldman were found stabbed to death in June 1994 outside Brown's Brentwood, Calif., condominium. The Simpsons' two children were asleep upstairs.

In 1995, O.J. Simpson wrote a book denying that he committed the murders called "I Want To Tell You." But this upcoming book, which was to be published by ReganBooks, sparked an unprecedented outcry from the general public and the victims' families alike.

The outrage over the book/television deal had been building for days. A dozen local Fox affiliates had already said they wouldn't air the program and Border's books said it would donate all profits of "If I Did It" to charity.

The Goldmans started the Web site DontPayOJ.com and tens of thousands of people signed a petition to get Fox to stop the project.

"It certainly goes to prove that the voices of the people can be heard," Fred Goldman said. "There was a unanimous recognition that this kind of programming, this kind of book ... is just nothing more than the glorification of murder and doing it for money. It was bad enough that the murderer did it, but then to turn around and have ReganBooks and Fox TV want to air it and cash in on it and glorify it. It was way too disgusting for the American public to swallow."

Even Fox insiders started piling on the criticism. Fox's biggest news star, Bill O'Reilly, said: "I'm not going to watch the Simpson show or even look at the book. If any company sponsors the TV program, I will not buy anything that company sells — ever."

Geraldo Rivera said: "I will bash this project every minute I have the opportunity to bash this project"

"I do believe that Rupert Murdock blinked and pulled the plug on this TV special and the book because, just clearly the bottom line," media strategist Sally Stewart said.

Denise Brown told NBC's "Today" show Tuesday that her family's response to News Corp.'s offer of compensation was, "Absolutely not."

"They wanted to offer us millions of dollars. Millions of dollars for, like, 'Oh, I'm sorry' money. But they were still going to air the show," Brown said. "We just thought, 'Oh, my God.' What they're trying to do is trying to keep us quiet, trying to make this like hush money, trying to go around the civil verdict, giving us this money to keep our mouths shut."

It's unclear how much of the reported $3.5 million paycheck O.J. Simpson has already received.

"The standard book deal is dolled out in three parts — a third up front, a third when it's published," said Sara Nelson, editor-in-chief of trade magazine Publisher's Weekly.

The $30 million civil judgment against him said that any money Simpson makes will go to the Brown and Goldman families, but Kim Goldman said neither her family nor the Browns have received any portion of the money Simpson was ordered to pay for the wrongful deaths of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman.

"We've not received anything from him to honor the judgment," she said. "There was a collection from an auction a handful of years ago right when the judgment was first entered, but since then he's vowed to never do anything to honor that judgment ... We will take whatever legal steps we can to secure whatever monies are owed to the families. He evaded the judgment. People were in cahoots to evade the judgment."

The Goldmans said that Simpson worked out a third-party deal so he wouldn't have to pay the families with money he earns from the book and interview. Fred Goldman said Simpson already received four-fifths of the $3.5 million

Nevertheless, the interview has been taped and some books have already been shipped to some stores. There is a good chance that it may get out to the public, and Fred Goldman said that is unfortunate.

"It will make its way through the Internet, the black market, I'm sure," Kim Goldman said. "I hope people don't pay any attention to it. It's disgusting and it does a disservice to victims of crime across the country."

I agreed with Bob. Very Well Put!!!!

[thgdriver]

Bob_Burd

Very well put, I could not agree more!

[thgdriver]

lola12314a

That's the problem when the prosecuting folks get too smug and sure of themselves. In this case, that is exactly what happened.

We must alao ask "were they up to it" as far as taking on the dream team O.J. put together?

The answer to that is "obvious" they were not!!

[bob_burd]

What I find unacceptable is the fact that Borders Books and Barnes and Noble Books both planned to carry this sick pile of putrid literary diarrhea. It only proves where their true interests lie, and their lame excuses that "the profits would go to the families", etc. etc. were just so much ***.

They knew that Simpson would be paid for books sold and they would gain much foot traffic through their stores by carrying such notorious trash. Sadly, money is always the bottom line; that's the credo these big businesses live and become filthy rich by.

The fact that these greedy corporate parasites' plans were only deterred by News Corp's and Rupert Murdoch's decision to derail this project only goes discredit the bookstores even further. The owners of these stores are scumbags and golems of the lowest order, like Simpson, Judge Lance Ito, his legal team and the twelve racist imbeciles who found him innocent.

Selah

[lola12314a]

When I saw the evidence that was kept out of court, couldn't something be done about this, I think this was a miscarriage of justice. I don't understand why all that evidence was kept out of court by Judgt Otto, and in a case like this, it seems like it was an unfair legal representation for the prosecution!

[thgdriver]

GabriellaC1 sez.

"Get over it and move on"

We all got over it a long time ago, O.J. keeps coming back out of the woodwork like a large cockroach. He is back in the news, thats the headline we are posting on. If you want to "move on" so bad, "do it", and don't bother the rest of us who want to comment here!

[thgdriver]

I don't understand why the family did not let this proceed, they have a 31,000,000.00 dollar judgement against o.j, of which, they have yet to see a dime.

If they don't let him make any money how will they ever expect to collect?

I understand Fox must pay him anyway, because of a signed contract.

[stick130]

Ya think the "Juice" figured it out yet that his name ain't worth a plug nickle in the USA? I'm sure there will be a few morbid dufus out there but,it's that way everywhere. OJ,I personally put ya up there with the Dubya, You got away with it, hopefully bush won't.

[gabriellac1]

Ya Know......... All of you seem like intelligent people. Do you not realize that NO ONE can prosecute OJ now for the murders that took place in 1995 due to " Can not be tried for the same crime twice", this would be double jeopardy. Now we all feel (without a doubt) that OJ at minimum, assisted with these murders. It is no fault of the previous or current President that nothing is being done to him. Even if he did come right out and say I DID IT.......... he can not be tried again. It sucks, but so does our judicial system. It isn't fair...... but neither is life itself. Get over it and move on. There are other people to bash in this world ya know?

Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone

[adian1-2009]

Like I have said before commenting this matter, Mr. Goldman, go after Murdoch, go after Regan, go after all other third parties involved in helping Mr. Simpson to avoid the effects of a duly entered judgment by a court of JUSTICE with jurisdiction over the matter and over the parties. Or is it that Mr. Murdoch and Ms. Regan will have legal standing to claim that they were not aware of Mr. Simpson's obligation to the Goldman and Brown families? Name for it: conspiracy to help evade a judgment.

[kjgal]

Agnim
Talk about morbidly obsessed. You've posted more than anyone on this forum. I think you are truly obsessed with OJ. You say you have a bachelors degree, yadayadayada. Do you actually have a job/career? Because you obiously have way too much time on your hands! Oh, and LOL!!!!!

[agnim]

"Good luck in the afterlife OJ, not sure they'll buy the glove theory up there."

If you will buy the 'afterlife', then anyone will buy the glove thingy that actually worked to prove OJ's innocence.

[Syndicate]

You can tell who watches FOxnews and who doesn't. Those of you who watch know that the news channel was very critical of the parent company from the begining. One of the FoxNews/Fox shows debated this sunday night. They all agreed, for once, that it was disgusting. I am proud that my local Fox station refused to air this.

[agnim]

sue1sey at 02:30 PM : Nov 21, 2006

Sue, you and the others are really dumb if you would think that a Black man is going to kill a white man over a white woman, and a loose one at that.

It's unbelievable this morbid obsession with the juice. LOL

Time to go search for your killer(s) else where.

[tibu987]

OJ, Please go to a foreign country for the remainder of your life. Leave behind your poor children and the scandal you created. Do everyone a favor and go away and stay away. You have done so much damage, created so much sadness, it would be doing all a favor is you just faded away, far away.

[sim828524s]

Bush stinks with a foul oder.

Bill Clinton is the one to be reconnized with greatness.

Long live the Clintons

[tinker3478]

Might as well give it up Sue. Too many idiots here today to have an intelligent conversation.

[sue1sey]

Shame on OJ for living with his deception all these years. How can he look his children in the eye? His legal team is even more evil than he is. They made that trial about race. It should have been about a jealous, brutal man who would made sure Nicole would be his forever. He is guilty and most people know it.

[agnim]

"Agnim, Read the string."

vancouverboo at 02:01 PM : Nov 21

What's there to read, booboo?

The Judicial Branch of government is responsible for legal proceedings; and the US courts were not in need of help in this 'open and shut' case of OJ's INNOCENCE!

Unlike, Vancouver, we don't have a monarch down here who may dispense 'justice' in her kangaroo courts on a whim.

[tinker3478]

A threat by middle America to boycott Harper Collins probably had as much effect as anything else. 85% of book sales are made from the lists released for Christmas buyers.