7 Shocking Facts About O.J. Simpson's 'If I Did It' That Resurfaced After His 2024 Death

The death of Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson in April 2024 immediately reignited public fascination with the most infamous chapter of his life: the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. This renewed interest, coming decades after his acquittal in the criminal trial, has brought a controversial, macabre piece of literature back into the spotlight: the book *If I Did It*. Published initially in a highly contested manner, *If I Did It* is not a direct confession, but a chilling, hypothetical account of how Simpson would have committed the murders, a literary device that many saw as a thinly veiled admission of guilt. As of December 2025, the book has once again soared up bestseller lists, forcing a new generation to confront the complex legacy of "The Juice," the civil judgment against him, and the relentless pursuit of justice by the Goldman family.

The Controversial Life and Death of Orenthal James Simpson

Orenthal James Simpson, known universally as O.J. Simpson or "The Juice," was a figure whose life trajectory mirrored an American tragedy, moving from celebrated sports hero to convicted felon.

• Full Name: Orenthal James Simpson
• Nickname: The Juice
• Born: July 9, 1947, San Francisco, California, U.S.
• Died: April 10, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada (Age 76)
• Cause of Death: Prostate Cancer
• Career Highlights: Heisman Trophy winner (1968) for USC; NFL star for the Buffalo Bills (1969–1977) and San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979); Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1985); successful actor and sports commentator.
• Key Legal Events: Acquitted in the 1995 criminal trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman; found liable for wrongful death in the 1997 civil trial, ordered to pay $33.5 million (later increased to over $58 million); convicted in 2008 for armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, serving nearly nine years in prison before parole in 2017.

Simpson's death in 2024, long after his release from prison, did not resolve the deep-seated controversies surrounding the Brentwood murders. Instead, it served as a catalyst, prompting a massive re-examination of the evidence, the "Trial of the Century," and, most notably, his infamous book.

1. The Book Was a Direct Attempt to Profit from Murder

The initial concept for *If I Did It* emerged in 2006, over a decade after Simpson's acquittal. The core controversy was Simpson's clear intention to profit from the horrific crimes he was accused of committing.

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The book was originally set to be published by Regan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, and had the working title, *If I Did It, Here's How It Happened*. This premise—a hypothetical confession—was widely condemned by the public, victims' rights groups, and even the book's own publisher. The outcry was so severe that HarperCollins ultimately canceled the publication just weeks before its scheduled release, destroying all copies and firing publisher Judith Regan.

2. The True Ghostwriter Was Pablo Fenjves, Not O.J. Alone

While O.J. Simpson is credited as the author, the book was penned by ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves. Fenjves, a screenwriter, worked directly with Simpson to craft the narrative.

Fenjves has since been vocal about his experience, stating that while Simpson never explicitly confessed, the level of detail and the hypothetical framing left little doubt in his mind about what truly happened that night. The ghostwriter's account adds a crucial layer of authenticity and chilling detail to the book's narrative, suggesting the hypothetical scenario was drawn from Simpson's own knowledge.

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3. The Goldman Family Seized the Rights to Satisfy the Civil Judgment

The most extraordinary twist in the book's history involves the Goldman family, the parents and sister of murder victim Ronald Goldman. Following Simpson's acquittal in the criminal trial, the Goldmans successfully sued him in a civil court, winning a massive $33.5 million wrongful death judgment in 1997.

When Simpson attempted to publish *If I Did It*, the Goldman family launched a legal battle to seize the book's rights and profits as a partial payment toward the colossal debt. In August 2007, a Florida bankruptcy court ruled in their favor, awarding the rights to the book to the Goldman family.

4. The Title Was Changed to 'Confessions of the Killer' as an Act of Justice

Upon acquiring the rights, the Goldman family—specifically Fred Goldman and Kim Goldman—made a powerful symbolic change. They republished the book through Beaufort Books, but with a new, confrontational title: *If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer*.

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The word "If" was printed in tiny type, with "I Did It" and the new subtitle "Confessions of the Killer" in large, prominent font. This change was a deliberate, public statement, transforming a cash-grab into a tool for justice, ensuring that any profits would go to the victims' families, not Simpson. The family also added their own commentary and a foreword by Dominick Dunne.

5. The Book's Sales Skyrocketed Immediately After Simpson’s Death

When O.J. Simpson died from prostate cancer on April 10, 2024, public curiosity surged. Within days, *If I Did It* experienced a massive, immediate spike in sales.

The controversial book topped Amazon's bestseller lists, hitting the No. 1 spot in categories like "Rich & Famous Biographies." This sudden resurgence demonstrated the enduring, macabre fascination with Simpson's story and the desire of the public to read the closest thing to a confession he ever authored. The interest also drove significant traffic to the related 2018 Fox special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?"

6. The 'Hypothetical' Account Reads Like a First-Person Narration

The narrative structure of *If I Did It* is what makes it so disturbing. The book details the events leading up to the murders, including the mounting tension and domestic abuse in the relationship between O.J. and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Crucially, when describing the actual killings of Nicole and Ronald Goldman, the book switches to a first-person, present-tense narrative, using a fictional "friend" named Charlie as a device. However, this device is paper-thin, with "Charlie" essentially acting as Simpson's alter ego, describing the violent events with an unnerving level of detail and emotional detachment. This literary technique is widely interpreted as a way for Simpson to confess without legally admitting guilt.

7. Simpson's $58 Million Debt Remains a Complex Legal Issue

Despite the Goldman family's success in seizing the book's rights, the vast majority of the civil judgment debt—which had grown to over $58 million due to interest—remains unpaid.

Simpson's death in 2024 opened a new legal chapter in the long-running saga. The Goldmans are entitled to pursue the debt against Simpson's estate, which is being handled in Nevada probate court. While the book's profits provide a small measure of compensation and justice, the full financial debt is unlikely to ever be recovered, leaving the book as a constant, tangible reminder of the civil court's verdict and the ongoing pursuit of financial restitution for the victims' families.