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O. J. Simpson Trial: A Turning Point In History

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O.J. Simpson Trial “If the glove doesn’t fit you must acquit”, exclaimed Johnny Cochran, one of the attorneys for the famous O.J. Simpson trial. The trial took place in the summer of 1994. O.J, was found not guilty during the trial. The verdict divided the nation into two groups; those who thought he was guilty and those who agreed with the verdict . Simpson, before being tried for murder, was a professional football player who played for the Buffalo Bills and san Francisco 49ers. Simpson was tried on account of two murders, one for his ex-wife Nicole Brown, and the other for her friend, Ron Goldman. The O.J. Simpson trial was a turning point in history because it publicized a racial divide, introduced DNA evidence into the courtroom, and …show more content…
Once the trial started, the media found it was a huge hit. Soon after, they created a reality show that followed the trial minute by minute with no stop. People loved it, it was as if they’re eyes were physically glued to the television. The nation could not take their eyes off the screen. According to the Washington Post as a result of the trial, “...a never-ending stream of reality television shows and many Americans’ unquenchable thirst for celebrity gossip- can be traced to this nearly 16-month span” (Washington Post1). This shows how, soon after the trial finished, the media saw how the world reacted to the reality show. They decided to create more and more shows just like it. The media’s reality TV shows became a hit and there became a appetite for celebrity news and gossip. The article later goes on to explain how CNN and other media networks made a bold decision to cover the trial continually, non stop, no matter how worthless the information was. This marked a breaking point in history, never in time had a story been covered non stop (Washington Post1).The O.J. Simpson trial caused a rush of celebrity reality TV shows and appetite for celebrity news and/or …show more content…
“Lessons From the O.J. Simpson Case for the Nation’s Racial Divide.” The Huffington Post. Febuary 17,2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/majorie-cohn.
Dawson Eric, Michael. “The O.J. Verdict.”KVIE, November 17,2015, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/oj/dyson.html
Krenshaw, Kimberle. “The O.J. Verdict.”KVIE. November 15,2015, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/oj/crenshaw.html
Littlefield, Dana. “How O.J. Simpson Trial introduced courts to DNA.” San Diego Union Tribune. Febuary 2017. www.sandiegouniontribune.com/how-oj-simpson-trial-introduced-courts-to-dna
Washington Post. “How the O.J. Simpson murder trial 20 years ago changed the media landscape.” The Washington Post. July, 2017,

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