The Unforeseen Link Between O.J. Simpson and 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Unveiled

O.J. Simpson's Connection to 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Explained

O.J. Simpson Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

O.J. Simpson's trial for the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman captivated Americans on TV in the mid-1990s.

Two decades later, Simpson made a surprising appearance on season 6 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, adding a new twist to the drama.

When Kathryn Edwards joined the Bravo series cast in 2015, she revealed that her ex-husband, Marcus Allen, used to be close friends with Simpson. Allen's involvement with Simpson goes beyond just their friendship.

In May 1996, Allen testified in the wrongful death lawsuit against Simpson by Brown and Goldman's families. In his deposition, Allen refuted Simpson's claims of having a sexual relationship with Brown while she was married to him. According to CNN, Allen also claimed that Simpson asked him to lie about his relationship with Brown during a phone call from jail. This incident led Allen to end his long-standing friendship with Simpson.

However, Faye Resnick, a recurring friend/guest star on RHOBH, shared a different perspective in her 1994 book, "Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted." Resnick, who was close to Brown and Simpson during the 1990s, revealed in her book that Brown had confided in her about her supposed affair with Allen.

O.J. Simpson's Connection to 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Explained

Marcus Allen and Kathryn Edwards. DAVE KAUP/AFP via Getty Images

Nicole shared with me that O.J. made a threat towards her, warning, "If you’re ever with Marcus again, I’ll ... I don’t know what I’ll do, but it will be bad. I won’t be able to control myself," as mentioned by Resnick. We were concerned that O.J. might seek revenge on Marcus by telling his fiancée Kathryn about the affair with Nicole.

The book received criticism for its sensational details and timing, as it was published shortly after the 1994 murders. Nicole’s father, Lou Brown, criticized the book as "T-R-A-S-H" in a statement to the Los Angeles Times in October 1994. He stated that Resnick was not close to Nicole and mentioned that his daughter had taken her in due to her drug problem, which Resnick wrote about in the book.

Lou added that the misinformation about Nicole cannot be confirmed and Nicole is not present to defend herself.

During season 6 of RHOBH, the controversial book was brought up when Edwards, who was engaged to Allen during his alleged affair with Brown, encountered Resnick at an event hosted by Lisa Vanderpump. Kyle Richards asked Edwards if she knew Resnick, to which Edwards denied knowing her. Edwards also mentioned that if Resnick claimed otherwise, she was lying.

Edwards expressed her negative feelings towards Faye Resnick during a confessional, mentioning that she was referenced in Resnick's book. She admitted to never reading it but was aware that Resnick portrayed her as a wife who turned a blind eye to certain things, a description she strongly disagreed with.

Later in the season, Edwards confronted Resnick during a dinner party at Richards' home.

Edwards explained that she would feel insincere if she chose to remain silent, mentioning Resnick's "book" without delving into specifics.

In response, Resnick expressed her reluctance to discuss events from over 20 years ago, describing it as a challenging and sorrowful period.

O.J. Simpson's Connection to 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Explained

Faye Resnick Michael Kovac/WireImage)

Both women remained composed during their interaction, but Edwards admitted in a private conversation that she felt "cheated" because she was prepared to confront Resnick.

During their discussion, Edwards and Resnick avoided talking about the murders and Simpson's trial. However, in a February 2016 episode of Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen directly asked Edwards if she thinks Simpson was guilty of the murders.

"It's hard to believe that someone you once cared about and were friends with could do something like that. I'd rather not even think about it," she said.

Edwards mentioned that she and Allen, who broke up in 2001, were requested to testify in Simpson's trial.

"We resisted the subpoena," she explained. "We were hoping to avoid being dragged into it. It was a very sad situation, and we wanted to steer clear of any involvement."

Edwards and Allen tied the knot at Simpson's Brentwood residence in 1993. Interestingly, the couple appeared to be mentioned in the suicide letter that Simpson wrote in 1994, just before his infamous televised car chase with the Los Angeles police and subsequent arrest.

Simpson wrote a message to Marcus, reminding him not to mess up his relationship with Catherine. However, Simpson seemed to have misspelled Catherine's name.

It's not just Edwards and Resnick who have a connection to Simpson among the RHOBH stars. Erika Jayne and Yolanda Hadid also have a tie to Simpson. They can thank Robert Shapiro for their friendship, who, along with Johnnie Cochran and Robert Kardashian, was part of Simpson's legal counsel team during the murder trial.

O.J. Simpson's Connection to 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Explained

Erika Jayne and Kathryn Edwards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Global Lyme Alliance

In her memoir "Pretty Mess" from 2009, Edwards mentioned that she was introduced to David Foster by her good friend Robert Shapiro while he was still married to Hadid. They all eventually became friends.

Richards also has a connection to the Simpson family. She is not only close friends with Resnick but also pals with Kris Jenner, who is Kardashian's ex-wife.

Simpson passed away at 76 years old in April 2024 after fighting cancer. He always claimed he was innocent, even though he was held responsible for the wrongful death of and assault on Goldman, as well as assault on Nicole in February 1997. He was told to give $8.5 million to the Goldman family for compensatory damages and $12.5 million to each family for punitive damages.

Editor's P/S:

The intersection of the O.J. Simpson trial and the cast of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" has created a fascinating narrative that exposes the complexities of human relationships amidst tragedy. The revelation of Marcus Allen's close friendship with Simpson and his subsequent involvement in the wrongful death lawsuit has opened up a new perspective on the trial. Faye Resnick's controversial book, which alleged an affair between Allen and Nicole Brown Simpson, has further ignited speculation and controversy surrounding the case.

While some may question the relevance of these connections to the reality TV show, they highlight the impact that the trial had on various individuals and their lives. The cast members' personal experiences and opinions provide unique insights into the case, which continues to fascinate the public even decades after the verdict. It is through these connections that the show offers a glimpse into the human side of a highly publicized tragedy, reminding us of the lasting effects it had on those involved.