Former NFL star and actor O.J. Simpson has passed away at the age of 76 after battling prostate cancer, his family confirmed in a statement. Simpson, known as “The Juice” to his fans, was a legendary running back who played 11 seasons in the National Football League. However, his legacy was forever tainted by the highly publicized trial in the 1990s for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Despite being acquitted of the criminal charges in a trial that captivated the nation, Simpson was later found liable in a civil trial and ordered to pay over $30 million to the victims' families, a debt he did not fully pay before his death.

Born in San Francisco and raised in public housing, Simpson rose to fame as a football star at the University of Southern California, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1968. He went on to have a successful NFL career, becoming the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. Simpson's off-field troubles began in 1994 when Brown Simpson and Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her Los Angeles home. The subsequent trial, dubbed the "trial of the century," divided the nation and sparked debates on race, gender, and celebrity justice.

Following his acquittal in the criminal trial, Simpson's life continued to be marred by legal troubles, including a 2007 armed robbery attempt in Las Vegas that resulted in a conviction and a nine-year prison sentence. Despite his release on parole in 2017, Simpson remained a controversial figure, with many still believing he was guilty of the murders. His story was later revisited in television series and documentaries that explored his rise to fame and fall from grace.

Simpson's death marks the end of a tumultuous life that saw him go from a beloved sports icon to a divisive figure in American culture. While his family has asked for privacy and grace during this time, his passing serves as a reminder of the complex legacy left behind by one of the most infamous figures in modern American history.