Former NFL MVP and Heisman Award winner O.J. Simpson passed away on April 11 after a long-standing battle with cancer. The former football standout was 76 years old at the time of his passing. In a statement following his passing his family noted that his transition was tight-knit. Only his friends and family were present, and they appeared to be keeping pace with that theme.
Simpson was cremated in Las Vegas on April 17. His attorney Malcolm LaVergne told TMZ that his cremation ceremony was very similar to his passing. Only “a select few,” were in attendance.
O.J. Simpson Cremated in Las Vegas
“O.J. Simpson has officially been cremated. And it sounds like there were only a select few people around to bear witness. Including his attorney-turned-executor of his estate,” TMZ wrote.
“Malcolm LaVergne confirms to TMZ that his longtime client’s body was burned to ashes Wednesday at a facility called Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas. And he says he was present, as were some others. Although he wouldn’t say exactly who.”
Simpson’s Attorney Walks Back Comments
Following Simpson’s death, LaVerne issued a strong statement claiming that Ron Goldman’s family would get none of the O.J.’s money posthumously. But he walked back his comments.
“I can tell you in advance; Fred Goldman’s [Ron Goldman’s father] claim will be accepted. And his claim will be handled in accordance with Nevada law,” LaVergne said.
LaVergne also noted that the reason he initially pushed back was because of the overzealousness of the attorneys following Simpson’s passing.
“Within an hour of knowing that O.J. died, he started talking s—. My advocate instinct was, ‘Oh, you’re gonna keep s—ting on him even after he’s dead?'” he added.
“‘Fine, you know? You get nothing.’ And so, those were my remarks then. But I backtracked, and they were pretty harsh remarks. And now I’m going in the other direction.”
Jurors proclaimed Simpson innocent in the murder trial of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. But he did lose in civil court. Thus ordered to pay the families millions in a wrongful death lawsuit. O.J. never paid up while he was alive. So it will be interesting to see how much the families will end up getting.