O.J. Simpson's official cause of death has been revealed - more than two weeks after his passing.
The former NFL star and controversial figure passed away on April 10 at the age of 76.
Now, Simpson's attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, has confirmed to TMZ that Simpson's official cause of death has been confirmed as prostate cancer.
"I was pretty certain it was prostate cancer; ultimately, that was the cause. He thought it had beaten it," LaVergne said in a statement. "I thought this was done, but you know how cancers go. They come back, and they come back with a vengeance."
Despite battling health issues, Simpson had often downplayed concerns about his well-being. However, in May 2023, he revealed in a video that he had been fighting cancer. In the weeks leading up to his death, he appeared frail and was seen using a cane.
In a video posted on February 11, Simpson expressed gratitude to those who had reached out to him, stating: “My health is good. Obviously, I’m dealing with some issues, but I think I’m just about over it, and I’ll be back on that golf course hopefully in a couple of weeks.”
The New York Post reports that Simpson had been under hospice care in Las Vegas before his passing.
Contrary to initial reports suggesting that Simpson was surrounded by his children and grandchildren in his final moments, his attorney revealed that only one close family member was present at his side. The family's statement on X, which stated that Simpson died surrounded by family, was deemed false by LaVergne.
"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace," a statement from his family read at the time of Simpson's death.
But LaVergne has since started that only one "close family member" was with the disgraced NFL star when he passed away.
Speaking to the Associated Press, LaVergne emphasized the immense burden faced by Simpson's children, who had shared their father with the world throughout his tumultuous life.
"At the end of the day, these children just lost a father," LaVergne said. "And they have the added burden that he is one of the most famous people on the planet, and who is polarizing and who is surrounded by controversy."
Simpson's life was marked by both triumph and controversy. He was famously acquitted of the 1995 double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, in a trial that captivated the world.
However, he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil case in 1997.
His legal troubles continued in 2008 when he was sentenced to nine years in prison for armed robbery and other felonies related to a confrontation over sports memorabilia in a Las Vegas hotel room.
Simpson's death marks the end of a life defined by fame, controversy, and legal battles, leaving behind a complicated legacy that continues to intrigue and divide public opinion.
