O.J. Simpson 'thought he would die' after battling COVID-19 last year as father of victim Ron Goldman hits back: 'Out of all the people who've passed away, what a shame he wasn't one of them'
O.J. Simpson says a he thought his time had run out when he was left gasping for air after a tough battle with COVID-19 last year left him gasping for air.
In an interview with The Athletic, Simpson recalled fighting the virus and said he considered what would happen once he was gone.
'When I had COVID, I almost couldn't get out of bed,' Simpson said. 'I made it to my balcony, trying to breathe. I couldn't catch my breath.'
'I felt vulnerable and for the first time thought I might be near the end,' he added. 'Since that day, I have wondered. Do I want to be buried? Do I want to be cremated? Years ago, I would have left it up to Nicole because I know she would have done the right thing,' he said.
Fred Goldman, father of Ron Goldman, the 25-year-old who was killed alongside Simpson's ex-wife, told the Daily News that its a 'shame' that Simpson survived.
O.J. Simpson says a he thought his time had run out when he was left gasping for air during a tough battle with COVID-19 last year left him gasping for air
Fred Goldman, father of Ron Goldman, the 25-year-old who was killed alongside Simpson's ex-wife, told the Daily News that its a 'shame' that Simpson survived
'Out of all the people who've passed away from COVID, what a shame he wasn't one of them,' Goldman said 'I certainly don't' think he deserves any sympathy. He's alive, he's free. He can do anything he wants. Everything my son can't do.'
Simpson was found not guilty of the grisly murder of his wife Nicole Brown in 1995 but went on to serve nine years in prison for his part in an armed memorabilia heist at a Las Vegas casino and is currently on probation.
Simpson, now 74, said beside his close call with COVID-19, he lives an enviable life
Simpson said beside his close call with COVID-19, he lives an enviable life.
'How many Americans, even today, wouldn't like to live my life?' Simpson asked during the interview as he drank Bloody Mary's and coffee at a Vegas sports bar.
'I don't work. I play golf four or five days a week. I go out to dinner a couple of nights with friends. People want to buy me drinks. I'm always taking pictures with people. Ladies hug me.' he added.
The 74-year-old is still subject to a multimillion dollar monetary judgment after a civil jury found him liable for the murder of his ex-wife and Goldman's son but Simpson still has cash flowing in from his NFL and Screen Actors Guild pensions that are shielded from court orders, the Daily News reported.
'I'm living a good life now,' Simpson said in the interview.
In 1997, Goldman pursued the the unanimous 1997 civil verdict with his wrongful death lawsuit and then persistently chased his $30 million payout from the suit.
Goldman even won the rights to Simpson's 2007 book 'If I Did It' and has collected cash from Simpson through seizures of his prized trophies and footballs.
'We went after him whenever we saw an opportunity to take something away, so there's a level of satisfaction knowing our efforts all those previous years might have been part of the reason he ended up committing armed robbery,' Goldman told the Daily News.