Although O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson first appeared to be the “picture perfect” couple during the first years of their relationship, friends close to Brown Simpson say that O.J.’s well-known abusive nature towards her started even as early as their first date.
During Lifetime’s docuseries, The Life & Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, friends of Nicole’s recalled noticing something disturbing after her first date with the now-infamous NFL star.
“When she came home, her pants were ripped… zipper was ripped,” D’Anne Purcilly recalled. Purcilly’s then-husband David LeBon allowed Nicole to stay with him while she was living in Los Angeles.
Purcilly continued by stating, “And they were jeans. And David’s like ‘You can’t just rip jeans like a linen something.’”
LeBon also recalled speaking to Nicole about what happened after the date. “I said, ‘Nicole what happened to you?’ She said, ‘He got a little forcible.’ And I said ‘Why would you let him do that to you?’”
LeBon was “really upset” about the incident. Purcilly recalled him wanting to “kind of have a few words” with O.J. “[Nicole] said ‘No, don’t. I really like him. I really, really like him.’” Purcilly said. “She fell in love with him I think the first time she met him.”
LeBon stated the incident didn’t stop Nicole from seeing O.J. “He kept coming and seeing her, and he had this obsession with her.”
Nicole Brown Simpson’s sisters Denise, Tanya, and Dominique also stated she spent the majority of her seven-year marriage to O.J. downplaying the verbal and physical abuse she was enduring behind closed doors.
The abuse hit the public spotlight during O.J.’s criminal trial for the murders of Nicole and her good friend Ron Goldman. Both were found brutally murdered outside of Nicole’s condo in Las Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood on June 12, 1994.
O.J. Allegedly Threatened to ‘Chop’ Nicole Brown Simpson Up ‘In Little Pieces’
Continuing to recall everything she knew about O.J.’s abusive behavior towards Nicole Brown Simpson, Purcilly revealed he had made one specific and chilling threat.
“[During their arguments, O.J. said], ‘I am going to chop you up in little pieces and bury you up on Mullholland,’” Purcilly said. “‘And no one will know where you are, not even your children.’”
Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister Denise also said that she witnessed the abuse firsthand while at the couple’s Brentwood home. After Denise told O.J. that he took Nicole for granted, he screamed at her. He then threw pictures of the Browns.
“He grabs [Nicole] by the throat, and he puts her up against the kitchen door,” Denise recalled. “And he throws her out the door, and she ends up on her butt and ends up with bloodied elbows.”
Despite the chaotic and horrific scene, Denise said “life went on as usual” for the couple.