O.J. Simpson's 'If I Did It': 5 Shocking Facts About The Banned Book That Became A Bestseller

The book *If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer* remains one of the most controversial and morbidly fascinating publications in modern American history. The quasi-memoir, written by O.J. Simpson with ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves, purports to be a "hypothetical" account detailing how Simpson would have committed the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

As of December 2025, the book's notoriety has only intensified, particularly following O.J. Simpson's death in April 2024. This event reignited public interest, causing the title to skyrocket to the top of bestseller lists, decades after its initial, highly contested release. This is the definitive, updated look at the explosive book and the legal battle that turned a killer's hypothetical confession into a victim's family's victory.

The Profile of Orenthal James "O.J." Simpson

Orenthal James Simpson (July 9, 1947 – April 10, 2024), universally known as "The Juice," was one of the most famous and polarizing figures in American culture. Born in San Francisco, California, Simpson rose to prominence as a legendary collegiate and professional football player.

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• Born: July 9, 1947, San Francisco, California.
• Died: April 10, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada (due to cancer).
• Nickname: "The Juice."
• Career Highlights: He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 and had a celebrated NFL career as a running back for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
• Post-NFL Career: Following football, he transitioned into acting, appearing in films like *The Naked Gun* series, and worked as a sports commentator.
• Legal Infamy: Simpson was the central figure in the 1994 "Trial of the Century" for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. He was acquitted in the criminal trial (1995) but later found liable for their wrongful deaths in a civil trial (1997), resulting in a $33.5 million judgment.
• Later Conviction: In 2008, Simpson was convicted on 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, Nevada, for which he served nine years in prison before being paroled in 2017.

The Controversial Journey: From Canceled Release to Bestseller

The initial concept for *If I Did It* in 2006 immediately sparked a national firestorm. The idea of Simpson profiting from a book discussing the brutal murders of two people—a crime he was still held financially responsible for—was met with universal outrage from the public, victims' families, and even the book's original publisher.

The Failed Original Publication

In November 2006, the book was originally set to be released by ReganBooks, an imprint of HarperCollins, and was accompanied by a televised interview with O.J. Simpson on the Fox network. The title was simply *If I Did It*.

The backlash was swift and severe. Critics, including the families of the victims, called the project "disgusting" and "despicable," accusing Simpson of attempting to cash in on a horrific double murder. Facing a massive public outcry and advertiser boycotts, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch personally ordered the cancellation of the book's publication and the Fox interview.

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The Goldman Family's Legal Victory and Title Change

The cancellation, however, was only the beginning. The family of Ronald Goldman, led by his father Fred Goldman and sister Denise Brown, saw an opportunity to finally collect on the outstanding $33.5 million civil judgment against Simpson for the wrongful deaths.

In a landmark legal maneuver in 2007, a Florida bankruptcy court awarded the rights to the manuscript to the Goldman family. The family then chose to publish the book, but with significant, symbolic changes to the title and cover to reflect their ownership and message.

The new, published title became If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer, with the word "If" drastically reduced in size on the cover, making it appear as a direct confession. Furthermore, the cover explicitly lists the author as "The Goldman Family" alongside O.J. Simpson. All author royalties and a majority of the profits from the sales were awarded directly to the Goldman family to partially satisfy the civil judgment, with a portion going to the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice.

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The Chilling Content: A Hypothetical Confession

The book, ghostwritten by screenwriter Pablo Fenjves, is structured as a narrative where Simpson describes the events of June 12, 1994, in the third person, using the hypothetical premise that "If I did it, here's how it would have happened." Despite the pretense of a hypothetical scenario, the narrative is chillingly detailed and often shifts into the first person, leading many to interpret it as a thinly veiled, quasi-confession of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

The Role of "Charlie"

One of the most debated elements of the book is the introduction of a fictional accomplice named "Charlie." In the manuscript, Simpson claims that "Charlie" was the one who went into a rage and committed the stabbings, with Simpson only present to "scare" Nicole.

Ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves, a Venezuelan-born screenwriter, has publicly stated his conviction that Simpson is guilty, noting that Simpson "exploded" when Fenjves challenged him on the details of the crime during the writing process. The inclusion of the character "Charlie" is widely dismissed as an attempt by Simpson to maintain plausible deniability while detailing the intimate knowledge of the crime scene.

The 2024 Sales Surge and Renewed Interest

O.J. Simpson's death on April 10, 2024, from prostate cancer, provided a grim, final chapter to his life and, unexpectedly, to the book's history.

In the days immediately following his death, the book experienced a massive spike in sales. It quickly topped multiple bestseller charts on Amazon, including the "Rich & Famous Biographies" and "Criminology" lists, demonstrating a renewed, morbid curiosity from the public.

The surge in sales meant that, even in death, Simpson's account continued to generate money for the Goldman family, providing a final, ironic twist to the legal battle that began decades earlier. This renewed public interest ensures that *If I Did It* remains a potent symbol of the intersection of celebrity, crime, and justice in America.

Key Entities and Topical Authority

The controversy surrounding *If I Did It* is deeply intertwined with the broader narrative of the "Trial of the Century" and its aftermath. Understanding these key entities provides a complete picture of the book's significance:

• Nicole Brown Simpson: O.J. Simpson's ex-wife, brutally murdered on June 12, 1994.
• Ronald Goldman: The friend of Nicole Brown Simpson who was also murdered that night.
• Fred Goldman: Ronald Goldman's father, who spearheaded the civil lawsuit and the effort to seize the book's rights.
• Denise Brown: Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, a vocal critic of Simpson and supporter of the Goldman family's efforts.
• The Civil Judgment: The 1997 verdict that found Simpson liable for wrongful death and battery, awarding the families $33.5 million. This judgment was the basis for seizing the book's rights.
• Beaufort Books: The small publisher that released the book after the Goldman family was awarded the rights.
• Pablo Fenjves: The ghostwriter who worked directly with Simpson and later expressed his conviction of Simpson's guilt.

The book’s existence and subsequent publication by the victims' family transformed it from a grotesque attempt at profiting from murder into a unique instrument of financial justice. It stands as a testament to the persistent pursuit of compensation by the Goldman family, a pursuit that endured until Simpson's final days.