Oprah to Discuss O.J Book

Wow wow wow! Oprah Winfrey will be discussing O.J. Simpson’s book, “If I Did It” this fall with the victims’ families! Denise Brown the sister of O.J.’s deceased wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Fred and Kim Goldman, the father and sister of Nicole’s friend and murder victim, Ron Goldman, agreed to confront each other about the publication on the Sept. 13 edition of Oprah. Here’s the story:

Denise Brown wants a boycott of the book in which Simpson details how he would have murdered his ex-wife and her friend on the night of June 12, 1994 — if he’d done it. She has expressed shock and horror that the Goldman family reached a deal for “If I Did It,” to be published by New York-based Beaufort Books.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders, but a civil court jury in 1997 found him liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to the Brown and Goldman families. In March, an L.A. Superior Court judge ruled the rights to the book must be put up for auction and all proceeds paid to Fred Goldman, who is still looking to collect on that $33.5 million judgment against the football star turned actor/sports commentator.

Before being awarded rights to the book, back when O.J. himself stood to see some coin off its sales, Goldman stood side by side with Denise Brown in being outraged at its publication.

It all started back in November when HarperCollins imprint ReganBooks announced it would publish “If I Did It” and ReganBooks chief Judith Regan would interview O.J. about the book in a TV special to be aired by the Fox broadcast network, which, like HarperCollins, is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

The Brown and Goldman families protested; also expressing unhappiness were some Fox TV stations, advertisers and booksellers. Just days later, Murdoch himself announced he’d pulled the book and the TV special, calling it “an ill-considered project.” One month later, Regan was fired.

Now, months later, Goldman, Beaufort Books — and Oprah — have taken over.

Oprah will weigh in on the book for the first time on what’s sure to be a highly rated episode of her syndicated talk show — and just three days into its new season. Everyone will be waiting to see whether she gives the concept thumbs up or down, because you know what can happen to a book when it gets Oprah’s imprimateur. Ka-ching!

I was never a fan of Nicole’s sister, Denise, but I have to say that I’m on her side on this one! The idea of this book disgusts me and I am saddened that anyone would want to capitalize on it. I’m not saying O.J. is guilty – actually have no opinion on the matter – but I am saying that a book about how the murders could have taken place is sick.

I’ll be watching the show, of course. What do you think?

Tags: oprah, oprah winfrey, denise brown, oj simpson, o.j. simpson, ron goldman, nicole brown simpson, if I did it, book

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