Trigger warning: murder, domestic abuse
Khloé Kardashian has been trending on social media following OJ Simpson's death yesterday (April 11), amid longstanding rumors of paternity and controversy surrounding claims of a past affair with her mother Kris Jenner, despite OJ's denial and lack of public comment from Khloé.
When the news that the controversial retired NFL star had died from prostate cancer broke out on Thursday, internet users rushed to social media to extend their condolences to the 39-year-old reality star.
Highlights
- Amid OJ Simpson’s recent passing and renewed speculation about paternity, Khloé Kardashian has been trending on social media
- OJ Simpson, rumored to be Khloé's biological father, denied claims multiple times.
- Khloé’s mom, Kris Jenner, was best friends with OJ Simpson’s wife, Nicole Brown Simpson
- Caitlyn Jenner's reaction to OJ's death: 'Good riddance', contrasts public condolences.
- OJ Simpson and Robert Kardashian had a strong friendship, extending to OJ's marriage to Nicole.
OJ, whose real name was Orenthal James, had long been rumored to be the biological father of Kris Jenner’s third born with the late lawyer, Robert Kardashian.
The 68-year-old momager gave birth to Kourtney Kardashian in 1979, Kim Kardashian in 1980, Khloé in 1984, and Rob Kardashian in 1987.
Amid OJ Simpson's recent passing and renewed speculation about paternity, Khloé Kardashian has been trending on social media
Image credits: khloekardashian
After remarrying with Caitlyn Jenner (at the time known as Bruce), she had Kendall Jenner in 1995, and Kylie Jenner in 1997.
Despite the numerous conspiracy theories that OJ was in fact Khloé’s dad, the late sportsman denied the claims multiple times over the years. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop social media users from flocking to Khloé’s public platform to say how “sorry” they were for her “loss.”
On the other hand, the media personality’s stepfather, Caitlyn, had more brutal words after the announcement of the 76-year-old’s death, writing on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Good riddance.”
Meanwhile, Khloé has not as of yet publicly commented on the news, opting instead to post a video of herself at the gym.
Image credits: Jim Smeal/Getty Images
The 39-year-old Good American founder was photographed stepping out in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon, just hours after news of OJ’s death broke.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Khloé looked somber as she exited a building with her entourage. She was dressed in a beige bodycon dress and carried a pricey bubblegum pink Hermes Birkin bag.
Robert Kardashian famously defended OJ during his 1995 murder trial. Khloé was nine years old when the American football player was arrested on suspicion of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
In 2009 during an E! True Hollywood Story episode, Khloé said she used to refer to OJ as “Uncle OJ” and Nicole as “Auntie Nicole.”
Khloé's mom, Kris Jenner, was best friends with OJ Simpson's wife, Nicole Brown Simpson
Image credits: TheEllenShow
Kris' friendship with Nicole was reportedly so strong that she honored her memory by giving her daughter Kendall the middle name, Nicole.
In 2019, OJ publicly denied that he was Khloé's biological father amid rumors that she was conceived during an alleged fling with her mother in the 1990s, which he also stated never happened, the Daily Mail reported.
At the time, he said in a video posted on X: “I want to stress never – in any way, shape, or form had I ever had any interest in Kris, romantically, sexually, and I never got any indication that she had any interest in me.
“So all of these stories are just bogus. Bad, you know, tasteless.”
Image credits: TheEllenShow
OJ elaborated on his close relationship with Robert Kardashian, saying: “Khloe, like all the [Kardashian] girls, I’m very proud of, just like I know Bob would be if he was here.” Bob was the nickname given to Robert.
“But the simple fact of the matter is she’s not mine,” the former actor added.
In 1995, OJ’s murder case captivated the US and viewers worldwide, but to the Kardashian family, the trial was a personal affair, due to Robert defending the acquitted criminal.
At the time, the courtroom highlighted a stark divide within the Kardashian family, as Kris stood by Nicole’s loved ones’ side, while Robert represented his friend OJ.
Rumors have long circulated that Kris and OJ had an affair
Image credits: The Sound OFF Network
When Kim and Kourtney took a seat behind their father on the defendant’s side of the courtroom, they noticed their mother sitting on the opposite side in support of her best friend, as per the Daily Mail.
Speaking to David Letterman in 2020, Kim recalled the painful moment when she was 13 years old, saying: “It tore my family apart, I’d say, for the whole time of the trial.”
She admitted that the 15-month legal battle was “really tough” for her and her older sister Kourtney, who felt like they had to pick a side.
OJ was later found civilly liable for the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend Ron. But over the years, Kris has spoken out about the horror she felt when Nicole was brutally stabbed in her home in Los Angeles back in 1994.
Image credits: Ted Soqui/Getty Images
The mom-of-six said she still could not believe what had happened as she sat in court during OJ’s trial the following year, where her lawyer ex-husband was helping defend her best friend’s suspected killer, as per the Daily Mail.
Kim explained to GQ in October 2023 that she and Kourtney opted to spend more time with their dad during the trial because they felt their mom was “happily remarried” while their father was “by himself.”
In April 1991, one month after her divorce from Robert, Kris married retired Olympian Bruce Jenner, who publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2015, taking the name Caitlyn.
Robert Kardashian, the father of Khloé, Kim, Kourtney, and Rob, was OJ's lawyer
Kim recalled: "We walked in [the courtroom] and saw my mom sitting on the other side.
"She said, 'You're supposed to be in school. What are you doing here?' Kourtney and I didn't even look at her."
Robert and OJ first met in 1967, when OJ was the star running back for the University of Southern California Trojans, and Robert was a glorified waterboy.
A few years later while playing tennis at a mutual friend's house, when Robert had become a successful entertainment businessman and lawyer, and OJ was an NFL hero of the Buffalo Bills, the men rekindled their relations and developed a strong friendship.
They became business partners, capitalizing on OJ's nickname "The Juice" by opening a chain of yogurt and juice stores known as Juice Inc. They also invested in Concert Cinema, which would show music videos before movies in theaters, as per the Daily Mail.
The friendship between Robert and OJ went on to extend to their wives, with Robert marrying Kris and OJ marrying Nicole after divorcing his first wife.
But unbeknownst to Kris was OJ's dark and violent side, prone to jealousy and explosive outbursts, according to the Daily Mail.
Throughout their 13-year relationship, OJ and Nicole experienced a turbulent cycle of reconciliation and separation, marked by incidents of violence such as OJ reportedly punching Nicole but attempting to make amends with lavish gifts like a Porsche.
Khloé previously remembered her childhood with "Uncle OJ" and "Auntie Nicole"
On New Year’s Eve 1988, OJ beat Nicole so severely that she required hospital treatment. At the time, the running back reportedly screamed repeatedly: “I’ll kill you!”
Their toxic relationship culminated in their ninth reported domestic dispute, leading to OJ's arrest and court-ordered counseling, yet they reunited shortly after. They officially divorced in 1993, a year before Nicole's tragic death.
Kris, set to meet Nicole the morning she was murdered, later reflected on her best friend’s documented abuse and her desire for someone close, like Kris, to bear witness to her suffering.
In the aftermath, Robert, who hadn't practiced law in over two decades, renewed his legal license to join OJ's infamous Dream Team of defense lawyers, which included Johnnie Cochran and Robert Shapiro, as per the Daily Mail.
In a 2009 interview with Dr. Phil, Kris recalled: "Right before the trial started, Robert sat down and wrote us a handwritten letter and just said, 'Look, I know you don't agree with what is going down here, but this is what I have to do for my friend.'"
During the trial, Johnnie infamously said “If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit” when a pair of bloody gloves were presented as evidence, appearing to be too small for OJ’s hands.
Kris claimed that she was with Nicole in New York City when she purchased those gloves as a gift for OJ earlier that year, as per the Daily Mail.
In 2019, OJ publicly denied that he was Khloé's biological father
According to the British tabloid, those who followed the trial closely would remember the unhappy look on Robert’s face when the “not guilty” verdict was read, a confusing image to many for a man who tore apart his own family to protect his close friend.
In her 2017 memoir, Caitlin claimed that Robert secretly believed OJ was guilty and once told her: "I would've been OK with it if they had gotten him in the first trial."
She wrote: "The implication was obvious that he believed OJ was guilty."
The paternity conspiracy left people divided on social media
