The family of O.J. Simpson, particularly his children with former wife Nicole Brown Simpson, have maintained a low profile subsequent to his notorious murder trial. O.J.’s journey to fatherhood started in 1967 when he married Marguerite Whitley, with whom he had three children before their separation in 1979. The well-known former NFL player later wed Nicole and the couple had two children. Despite his accomplishments in sports, O.J. became infamous for the murder allegations of Nicole and Ronald Goldman, who were discovered fatally stabbed near her home in Los Angeles in 1994.
Although he was absolved in a much-publicized criminal trial, a civil lawsuit led by the Goldman family found him responsible for Goldman’s wrongful death and battery, resulting in a fine of $33.5 million to be paid to the bereaved families. Throughout this, O.J. and Nicole’s children—Sydney and Justin—who were both younger than 10 years old at the time, stayed loyal to their father, even as he moved to Florida and confronted further legal complications.
In 2007, O.J. was convicted for kidnapping and armed robbery in Las Vegas and was imprisoned in Nevada for nine years before his early release in July 2017. Following a private struggle with cancer, O.J.’s family declared his passing in April 2024 at the age of 76. A statement from his family announced, ‘Our father, Orenthal James Simpson, lost his battle with cancer on April 10th. He was surrounded by his loved ones during this time. We kindly ask everyone to respect our privacy during this period.’
Arnelle Simpson, O.J’s eldest daughter was from his first marriage with Marguerite. She publicly defended her father during his 1995 trial as she took to the stand. Arnold stated her father was ‘extremely upset, emotional, and perplexed’ when he learnt about Nicole Brown Simpson’s death. Arnold also spoke up at O.J.’s parole hearing in 2017, pleading for a chance for their family to ‘move ahead.’ She admitted that her father was not ‘an ideal man’ but argued that he tried his best to conduct himself in an upright manner. According to Georgia Newsday, Arnold was employed by a rapper and also planned some fashion shows.
Arnelle featured in several documentaries including the series OJ: Trial of the Century in 2014. Regardless of the controversies, she remained close to O.J until his demise. Jason Simpson, O.J.’s son from his marriage with Marguerite, encountered his father during the notorious 1994 Bronco chase. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2016 that Jason held the position of culinary director at an Atlanta based restaurant. In a rare 2021 interview for ‘The Food That Binds,’ he mentioned his father while explaining his decision to stay under the radar.
Jason stated that he less frequently associated with his famous father as he wanted to focus on his career. He reflected on ‘aggressive’ people who pry into his personal life, many with ulterior motives. Aaren Simpson, O.J. and Marguerite’s third child, tragically drowned shortly before turning 2 in 1979. His death was briefly discussed by O.J. in a 2004 interview, where he mentioned that he and his ex-wife ‘never discussed’ the incident post the tragedy.
The Lifetime film ‘The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson’ presented O.J. and Marguerite’s turbulent relationship. Veterdata Jones, Marguerite’s sister, and a few others accused O.J. of domestic abuse. However, Marguerite has openly refuted these accusations. Sydney Simpson, O.J. and Nicole’s daughter, was born in 1985. After Nicole’s death, Sydney was initially raised by Nicole’s family and later returned to O.J.’s custody following his acquittal.
O.J. spoke about the challenges of raising Sydney on his own, admitting it might have been a mistake not to bring another woman into their home. He acknowledged on the Today show that Sydney’s problems as a teenager were mostly emotional, unlike boys who do ‘stupid things’. Sydney pursued higher education at Boston University and earned a degree in Sociology. She ventured into the real estate business, owned properties in Florida, and maintained contact with Nicole’s family members despite their complicated history.
Denise Brown, Nicole’s sister, confessed that her vocal criticism of O.J. and advocacy against domestic violence strained her bond with Nicole and O.J.’s children. Sydney and Justin had run-ins with the law during their stay with O.J. in Florida, according to court documents uncovered by producers for the 2024 Lifetime special.
Justin, the youngest child of O.J. and Nicole, was just 5 when his mother was murdered. In 2004, O.J. described Justin’s coping mechanism of internalizing his issues, distancing himself when troubled, and assuring his father he would be okay. Justin, following his sister’s footsteps, also ventured into real estate, resided in Florida, and revealed he was expecting a child in 2022.