17 Jun: O.J. Simpson’s Car Chase
O.J. Simpson, wanted for questioning over the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, was followed by both the LAPD and the world’s news cameras on 17th June, 1994, as he sat creeping along the motorway, holding a gun to his head, in a white Ford Bronco driven by his former teammate Al Cowlings.
As the SUV rolled steadily towards Los Angeles, fans gathered on bridges and roadside verges, waving and shouting to the former sports star and actor. The chase lasted about two hours, and TV networks seized on the story with unprecedented intensity, interrupting normal programming across the United States, including the 1994 NBA Finals, with millions watching both events simultaneously.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how Simpson’s history of spousal abuse was already known by the public; discover how this moment pre-echoed the racial division and lax treatment that would later form part of the commentary around Simpson’s infamous court case; and reveal why the event was a bumper day for Domino’s Pizza…
Further Reading:
• ‘Revisiting O.J. Simpson’s 1994 Bronco Chase — Revisit Shocking, Slow-Moving Car Chase’ (People, 2024): https://people.com/oj-simpson-1994-bronco-car-chase-details-8630083
• ‘Al Cowlings – OJ Simpson’s best friend who infamously drove a white Bronco as the accused killer held a gun to his own head during iconic police chase – breaks cover after NFL star’s death (and STILL remains loyal to the Ford brand)’ (Mail Online, 2024): https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13299503/oj-simpson-death-police-chase-ford-bronco.html
• ‘The O.J. Simpson car chase lasted 45 minutes. Watch it unfold’ (CNN, 1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuRD3TQEoeY&rco=1
#Crime #Strange #90s #Celebrity #Black