English 233

15 February 2015
OJ Simpson
OJ Simpson was a social icon from his days in professional football to his arrest
for murder. Simpson is one of the more notable celebrities from our generation because
of his murder trial. He is one of the more notable celebrities of the 70s and 80s because
of his success on the football field. Simpson was also thought of as someone who broke
racial barriers. Most black athletes would not have had the opportunity to do some of the
things Simpson did, such as acting in commercials and other shows. Simpsons life story
was very similar to other athletes. He came from the rough part of town, spent time in
jail, and then turned his life around for the better. The Simpson story showed us all how
celebrities are human to and can make mistakes.
Simpson was involved in gang life and criminal life when he was a juvenile. He
spent time in jail for various offenses he committed. Eventually his mother wanted to get
him out of that life so she moved him to another school where he found football.
Football was something Simpson was good at and it gave him something besides gang
life. He then went on to junior college to play football. After 2 successful years there he
began playing for the University of Southern California. USC was primarily known as a
white school and Simpson was black. This created some controversy and was the first
thing to put him in the spotlight. He starred on the football field at USC. Simpson won
the Heisman trophy and rushed for over 2000 yards. Simpson then was drafted into the
NFL where he also became a star. A lot of attention was focused onto him. Everyone

including blacks and white liked OJ Simpson. His personality was very outgoing and
that helped him to land jobs as a commercial actor. He was also involved in a few small
TV roles. Most Americans didnt think of Simpson as black but as great football player
and a great man. Simpson was constantly in the spotlight through out his career, and he
handled it very well. After one failed marriage he married again. This time it was a
white woman. In the mid 90s Simpson was arrested for the murder of his wife. That
started the trial of the century.
The trial was a defining moment in his life. Simpson had always been viewed as
honest respectable man then this happened. The public lost respect for him. The issue
was then divided between whites and blacks. Simpson had never tried to play the race
card before because he didnt need to but now he did need to use it. The entire trial was
televised creating a media frenzy. Simpson was eventually acquitted of the charges and
set free. Simpsons image was forever tarnished. The public now viewed him in a
different way. The public realized he is more than a celebrity he is also a person. The
average American does not think that celebrities could kill someone. OJ was a celebrity
and no one thought he would be capable of something like this.
The video portrayed Simpson in a very positive light. The producers choose not
to focus on his trial. The trial was the defining moment in Simpsons life and it received
very little attention in the video. The trial showed people that even celebrities can screw
up, and that nobody is perfect. OJ Simpson is no longer known for his football
accomplishments or his acting roles, but for his arrest for murder. The video lead us to
believe the opposite that OJ is still the great player and man he once was. His image is
forever tarnished, and the public does not view him as they once did.