|
Goldmans 'punish' OJ with book
14/09/2007 14:03 - (SA)
Chicago - The father and sister of Ronald Goldman say that by seizing control of the OJ Simpson book, If I Did It, they are punishing the man they believe murdered their loved one.
Fred Goldman and his daughter, Kim, appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Thursday to discuss their decision to publish the book, released the same day. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of killing his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald.
Simpson's ghost-written, hypothetical story of how he would have murdered them originally was scheduled to come out last November, but HarperCollins pulled the book in response to near-universal protests.
Over the summer, a federal bankruptcy judge awarded the book's rights to Goldman's family to help satisfy a $38m wrongful death judgment against Simpson. The Goldmans retitled the book If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.
Winfrey said she will not buy or read the book, and asked the Goldmans if they do not feel its proceeds are "blood money."
'Moral dilemma'
"It's sending him a message," Kim Goldman said. "He put hours putting together this confession about how he killed Ron and Nicole, and he worked hard thinking he was going to make millions off of it. And we snatched it right out from under him."
Winfrey said dedicating a show to the topic was a "moral, ethical dilemma" for her.
She said she committed to the show when the guests were to also include Nicole Simpson's sister, Denise Brown, who has been severely critical of the Goldmans for publishing the book.
Brown later refused to share a stage with the Goldmans, however, and Winfrey said she felt she had to keep her word to the Goldmans.
Winfrey acknowledged that her program often promotes books and authors, yet, she said, "I don't want to be in the position to promote this book, because I, too, think it's despicable."
Brown did speak to Winfrey, but on her own in a segment taped earlier. She said she decided against appearing with the Goldmans because she feared it would give the book "more impact."
'Find some peace'
She called the Goldmans hypocrites for changing their minds about publishing a book Fred Goldman earlier called "disgusting" and "despicable" when OJ Simpson stood to benefit.
Winfrey told the Goldmans she wishes they could find some peace, but Fred Goldman said the book's publication will not help with that.
"It brings a certain level of satisfaction that we've taken something from him," he said. "I think it also is a recognition for him to know forevermore that we're going to be after him ... to punish him for what he's done, to get some piece of justice."
If I Did It comes with Simpson's original manuscript intact and extensive commentary, including a chapter written by the Goldmans.
Simpson has maintained his innocence in the 1994 killings in Los Angeles. Currently living near Miami, he has disowned the book, saying he had little do with its creation. The ghostwriter, Pablo Fenjves, has disagreed, saying If I Did It is based on extensive discussions with Simpson.
As of Thursday, the book was No 8 in sales on Barnes&Noble.com and No 52 on Amazon.com.
- AP
|
South Africa
