White House and OJ Simpson (Photos via Getty Images)

The White House has given a statement on the death of controversial former NFL star running back OJ Simpson, who died of cancer at the age of 76 on Wednesday.

The family of OJ Simpson announced the news via X/Twitter on Thursday morning. The Pro Football Hall of Famer and movie star announced via social media in May 2023 that he was undergoing chemotherapy for prostate cancer.

While speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked if U.S. president Joe Biden had a reaction to Simpson’s death, and if the two men had ever interacted.

Heres the statement from Jeane-Pierre:

“So I’ll say this. Our thoughts are with his families during this difficult time, obviously with his family and loved ones. And I’ll say this, I know that they have asked for some privacy, and so we’re going to respect that. I’ll just leave it there.”

OJ Simpson was one of the most accomplished NFL players of his era, winning four rushing titles as well as 1973 Offensive Player of the Year and MVP honors. The five-time First-team All-Pro was named to five Pro Bowls as well as the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

After his playing career, Simpson found success in Hollywood, starring in “The Naked Gun” movie trilogy with Leslie Nielsen. He also had appearances in TV series like “Roots” and the 1977 hi film “Capricorn One”.

OJ Simpson’s Complicated Legacy

You simply can’t talk about the legacy of OJ Simpson without addressing the legal troubles that overshadowed his football and Hollywood success.

In 1994, Simpson was charged with the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Often referred to as the “Trial of the Century”, prosecutors and police alleged that Simpson killed Nicole in a jealous rage, and that Ron was simply a victim in the wrong place at the wrong time.

OJ was acquitted on both murder charges, but the victims’ families won a civil case against the former NFL star, who was found liable for the murders by a jury. Simpson was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the families.

In 2008, Simpson was found guilty on numerous armed robbery charges for his involvement in a Sept. 2007 incident in Las Vegas. Though he was initially sentenced to 33 years in prison, he was paroled in July 2017 after serving less than nine years.