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O.J. Simpson rips media at D.C. appearance
August 29, 1996
Web posted at: 6:10 a.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- O.J. Simpson called the news media "barracudas" and "bottom feeders" Wednesday night in an address at an inner-city church packed with supporters who paid $10 each to see him.
"Who holds the media responsible?" Simpson asked during his appearance at Scripture Cathedral. "Who's watching the media? They would rather run with the rumors and innuendoes."
Simpson, acquitted of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, said little about a pending civil suit by the victims' families because of a judge's gag order.
The former football star and actor accused the media of fabricating "untruths" about his life, adding he and his attorneys had constructed a "hit list" of media groups that could face legal action after the wrongful death suit is resolved. (861K AIFF or WAV sound)
Laughter burst from the crowd of over 1,000 when Simpson told a story about how the media could get the facts wrong. He related how he sat in bed at his Los Angeles home and watched reports of his "marriage" to model Paula Barbieri beamed live from the Dominican Republic.
The event was sponsored by a group called Black Attorneys for Justice. The organizers said the entrance fee was used to pay Simpson's expenses and honorarium.
Organizers made a point of allowing news crews from black media organizations into the church first, asking other reporters and news crews to wait outside. During the event, a CBS-TV reporter, after asking Simpson a question, was told by an organizer that the microphone was intended for black members of the audience only.
Meanwhile, a dozen members of the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence marched outside the church, carrying signs reading "What if we Took Domestic Violence Seriously?" and "Thou Shalt Not Kill."
"We don't think a known abuser of women should be a role model for anyone, much less speaking in a church, much less speaking in our nation's capital ... " said one demonstrator, Caitlin Hills, 26.
Related stories:
- O.J. to speak at cathedral - Aug. 28, 1996
- Simpson, families battle over courtroom cameras - August 23, 1996
- Judge bars cameras in courtroom for Simpson civil trial - August 23, 1996
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