Norm Macdonald’s constant jokes about OJ Simpson being guilty of double murder have gone viral since the infamous NFL player’s death.
Norm Macdonald’s constant jokes about OJ Simpson being guilty of double murder have gone viral since the infamous NFL player’s death
The comic, who passed away aged 61 from cancer, spent years branding Simpson a killer during his appearances on ‘Saturday Night Live’ after the athlete-turned-actor – who died aged 76 on April 10 – was sensationally acquitted of the 1994 double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, 35, and her 25-year-old waiter friend Ron Goldman at her house in Los Angeles.
Norm repeatedly targeted Simpson during the ‘Weekend Update’ segment of ‘SNL’ – and later said he was fired over his gags.
One of the viral clips of Norm joking about Simpson shows him referencing the ex-running back’s shock post-trial memoir ‘If I Did It’.
He jokes: “In his book, OJ Simpsons says he would’ve taken a bullet or stood in front of a train for Nicole.
“Man, I’m going to tell you, that is some bad luck when the one guy who would’ve died for you kills you.”
After Simpson was acquitted in criminal court in 1995 of butchering Nicole and Ron, the comic quipped: “Well, it is finally official. Murder is legal in the state of California.”
It’s been reported Don Ohlmeyer – the late president of NBC’s West Coast division who died aged 72 in 2017 – was a friend of Simpson’s and hated Norm’s jokes about his pal.
Despite objections from ‘SNL’ producer Lorne Michaels, 79, Don ordered Norm to be replaced the anchor of the ‘Weekend Update’ spot in 1997.
Norm went on to brand Don a “liar” and “thug”, saying on ‘The David Letterman Show’ about his sacking: “I talked to a guy that said I’m fired”.
Host David, 77, hailed the ‘Weekend Update’ as the “best part of the show”, with Norm replying: “It’s all a matter of opinion – that’s your opinion – but then the guys that can fire me, that’s not their opinion.”
When asked if Lorne was the man who fired him, Norm said: “(He) didn’t fire me. He likes me.”
“(NBC bosses) told me that Don Ohlmeyer, who turns out to be the president, (fired me.)”
Norm went on to blast Simpson – who was found liable for Nicole and Ron’s deaths in a civil case – including while he hosted ESPN’s Espy Awards a month after he was booted off ‘SNL’.
He congratulated Charles Woodson on winning college football honour the Heisman Trophy, before joking: “That is something that no one can ever take away from you. Unless you kill your wife and a waiter.”
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