News Corp canceling O.J. Simson book & interview

[Arkansas Winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Arkansas Winger]

Exerpt from Market Watch

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- News Corp. announced Monday that it was canceling publication of a book by O.J. Simpson on the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, and would not go ahead with a planned television interview with Simpson.
3:59pm 11/20/2006

Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. NWS21.84, -0.25, -1.1%) , took the unusual step of issuing a public apology for scheduling the book and TV special, after the company unleashed a firestorm of criticism for planning the event.
"I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project," Murdoch said in a written statement. "We are sorry for any pain this has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown-Simpson."
Simpson's book entitled, "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened," was scheduled to be released at the end of this month to coincide with his television interview with Judith Regan, his publisher. The interview -- which Regan said she regarded as his confession to the killings -- was scheduled to run in two parts on Fox stations on Nov. 27 and 29, with the book's release due out Nov. 30.
Simpson was acquitted in 1995 on both murder counts after a lengthy jury trial. But a civil court later determined that Simpson was liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay more than $30 million in damages to the victims' families.
News Corp. shares were down 1% in late trading Monday.

Russ Britt is the Los Angeles bureau chief for MarketWatch.

[vlariano Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vlariano]

That's the best news I've heard all day!! I couldn't believe that it was going to be published in the first place. Someone finally got smart before the nation was in an uproar.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

It did seem incredible that a book launch and interview should be happening. Don't forget however that OJ in all probability would have ended up in jail but for the stupid cop who tampered with the evidence.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

What got OJ off was the gloves. Like bloody gloves left to dry for a year would fit like a regular glove the same size, I DON'T THINK SO!!

OJ was an idol of many people, White and Black. If the cop had said he was a huge fan, like most other middle aged white guys, maybe the fact that OJ was black wouldn't have been a factor in the case.

[Jestjoan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jestjoan]

That is such great news. Thanks to all who signed the petition etc.

[Icarus Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icarus]

Tbe also announced cancelation of my book and interview deal:

If I cared, I would have read it and watched it, but I didn't care at all, nor did I care to give Larry King, Bill Oriellly or Fox "news" any new viewers related to this event either, so I also didn't care about their attempts to anger the public and didn't sign any petitions or discuss it anywhere.

That was just the working title.

-David

[Icarus Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icarus]

Anyway, isn't OJ still getting paid for the deal regardless if the show gets aired or the book actually gets published? Presumably he already had his deal, and News Corp just decided to eat the loss at this point.

-David

[Jestjoan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jestjoan]

I heard he did get a nice advance but not all the money..........

[Jestjoan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jestjoan]

From the petition web site

WE WON!



Thanks to you, the killer’s book will never see the light of day. His narcissistic and self-serving two-hour TV “special” won’t pollute the nation’s airwaves. America took a hard look at the filth Fox, Harper Collins, and Regan Publishing wanted to spread around and said NO! No more celebration of evil! No more exploitation of the deaths of two wonderful people! America said NO!

And you did it! 58,000 of you (and still counting) signed the petition in just 4 days. Thousands of you flooded phone lines and e-mail boxes and let the nation’s media elite know how you felt. You stood up to them. And, like any other bully, they turned tail and ran. Your voices were heard! Thank you for helping to spare our families, other Victims of Crime and the American public, from the additional and unnecessary pain these callous companies inflicted upon us.

We can not express enough the heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to each and every one of you, who has continued to support the efforts of our family for the last 12 years. But truthfully this last week … we were ALL victimized by this horrific and insensitive situation – and to know that we fought this battle together is truly remarkable. We are humbled and inspired by your ongoing commitment to justice on behalf of Ron and Nicole. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.




-Ron's Family