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OJ Simpson allegedly sends threatening messages featuring knife emoji to parody Twitter account

Twitter user claims former sportsman told him he has ‘nothing to lose’

Katie O'Malley
Tuesday 18 June 2019 14:04 BST
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O.J. Simpson (C) reacts after learning he was granted parole at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction
O.J. Simpson (C) reacts after learning he was granted parole at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction (Getty Images)

A Twitter user has claimed that O.J. Simpson has sent him a series of threatening messages with one featuring several knife emoji.

The messages feature in two videos posted on the @KillerOJSimpson parody account Twitter page on Monday, which also marked 25 years since Simpson’s infamous police chase in a white Ford Bronco that resulted his arrest for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.

The former NFL player was later tried acquitted for double murder.

The Twitter videos show an exchange of messages that appear to be sent between Simpson's Twitter account and the parody account holder.

But Simpson's lawyer Malcolm LaVergne, posted a message that the person alleged to have sent the threatening messages might not be Simpson.

Introducing the first clip, the narrator behind the camera can be heard saying: “Man, you would never guess who the hell just messaged me on Twitter in a DM. Look at this s**t.”

Reading out the messages, he then reads one that they claim was posted by Simpson, under the account name @TheRealOJ32, demanding that the parody account be deleted over “false missleading content[sic]”.

In response, the parody account holder wrote: “And if I don’t? You gonna stab me too? In reality I ain’t lying..You, me and millions know the truth. You Trippin’ over a parody account lol Welcome to twitter bruh [sic].”

The reply in the video then repeats his demand for the account to be closed and threatends "serious consequences”.

“I’ll find your ass one way or another so don’t mess with me,” a message from the supposed Simpson reads. “I got nothing to lose. Grow up!”

The narrator explains that he responded to the threat with an emoji of a thumbs-up and a dagger, which appears to show the @TheRealOJ32 account replying with a knife emoji.

In the second video posted several hours later to Twitter, the same narrator says that the operator of the account initiated another exchange, writing: “Think I’m playing mother*cker…

“Seen that video you posted about me. You think I’m playing? Tired of all your bulls–t. I WILL FIND YOUR ASS AND CUT YOU — Don’t believe me? Just watch and see b**ch [sic].”

Goading the supposed former sportsman with another message, the video shows the @TheRealOJ32 account replying with a string of 15 knife emojis and the words “you next”.

The identity of @TheRealOJ32 remains unverified.

According to the New York Post, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Public Safety said that Simpson was still on parole, and that the Division of Parole and Probation “takes threats or acts of violence against public safety very seriously and is looking into the alleged complaints”.

“If there is an alleged violation, an investigation will be conducted and appropriate actions will be taken by the Division and the Parole Board,” spokeswoman Kim Smith said.

The Nevada law prohibits a person from committing harassment if the person knowingly threatens “to cause bodily injury in the future to the person threatened or to any other person, including sexual assault”.

A first offence of such harassment is charged as a misdemeanour, while a second or following offence is punishable as a gross misdemeanour.

The account bio on Simpson’s supposed account reads: “If you don’t see it here, I didn’t say it.”

On Monday, the former sportsman’s lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne, posted a message that the person alleged to have sent the threatening messages might not be Simpson.

LaVergne tweeted: “Can you say 700,000+ Twitter followers for Mr. Simpson @TheRealOJ32? Less than three days. Unverified account. Only three tweets so far. M.”

The alleged threats come days after Simpson launched a Twitter account with a series of video posts in which he claims he has some “getting even to do”.

“Now, there’s a lot of fake OJ accounts out there so this one, @TheRealOJ32, is the only official one. It should be a lot of fun, and I got a little getting even to do,” he said in one of the clips.

He did not elaborate on who exactly he wanted to get even with.

Last week, LaVergne confirmed the authenticity of Simpson’s Twitter account following reports Simpson had launched a new Twitter account under the handle @TheRealOJ32.

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“He will not be negative,” LaVergne told CNN. “Nor will he comment on the LA thing [the murders of Brown Simpson and Goldman. It will be one of the best accounts on Twitter to follow.”

The Independent has contacted Malcolm LaVergne and the Nevada Department of Public Safety for comment.

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