Fred Goldman, Father of Deceased Ron Goldman, Offers a Curt Reaction to O.J. Simpson’s Death

Fred and Kim Goldman, the father and sister of Ronald Goldman, issued a statement to Men’s Journal following the death of O.J. Simpson at the age of 76 following a battle with prostate cancer. Goldman’s remarks were notably different than many of the social media tributes that have been pouring in for Simpson throughout the day. Earlier on Thursday, Goldman told NBC News that Simpson's death is "no great loss to the world. It’s a further reminder of Ron’s being gone."

Simpson was infamously acquitted of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in 1994. After the verdict, the Goldmans sued Simpson in a civil court for the wrongful death of their son. That proceeding found Simpson liable, and he was ordered to pay the Goldmans $33.5 million. According to the family, Simpson never paid them any of this money.

Since the trial, the Goldmans have dogged Simpson's reputation and finances.

“The news of Ron’s killer passing away is a mixed bag of complicated emotions," Fred and Kim told Men's Journal, "and reminds us that the journey through grief is not linear. For three decades, we tirelessly pursued justice for Ron and Nicole, and despite a civil judgment and his confession in If I Did It, the hope for true accountability has ended."

In November 2006, Simpson announced he was writing a book entitled If I Did It, which was to be Simpson’s theoretical account of Goldman and Brown’s murder if he had committed it. It was to be accompanied by an interview with Simpson on Fox, entitled O.J. Simpson: If I Did It, Here's How It Happened.

These developments were met with swift outrage from the Goldmans, who sued Simpson to obtain rights to the book. They did so both with the hope of seeing some money from the civil settlement, but also to ensure the former NFLer wouldn’t profit off his macabre tome.

In 2007, a Florida bankruptcy court granted the Goldmans the copyright to If I Did It, including media rights and movie rights. They were also granted exclusive rights to Simpson's name, likeness, life story, and right of publicity as it pertained to the book.

Though the initial release of If I Did It was canceled shortly after its announcement in 2006, the Goldmans released a slightly revised version of the book in September 2007. While the copy was kept the same, the title of the book was changed to If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.

On physical copies, the title is emblazoned over a picture of Simpson, with the first word minimized to such a degree that the title appears to be I Did It.

Goldman sued Simpson once again in 2022, this time for $96 million. In the suit, Goldman claimed that Simpson never paid them any of the $33.5 million owed to them after he was found guilty in the civil trial.

We will continue to advocate for the rights of all victims and survivors, ensuring our voices are heard both within and beyond the courtroom. And despite his death, the mission continues; there's always more to be done. Thank you for keeping our family, and most importantly Ron, in your hearts for the last 30 years"

In 2008, Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in a Las Vegas prison for stealing sports memorabilia at gunpoint. Goldman called the sentencing "bittersweet." (Simpson was released in 2017.)

But on Thursday, Goldman was feeling reflective, not vindictive. He offered Arizona’s 12News a somewhat softer version of the statement he gave NBC earlier.

“It’s a reminder of how long Ron has been gone and how much we miss him,” Goldman said simply.