O.J. can write whatever he wishes. I object to the money hungry slime-balls that hope to profit from such shit. Fuck Fox TV and ReganBooks, the publisher of this crap; but then, I don't watch Fox anyway; and I'll certainly never buy this piece of crap book. I hope they both lose money on it. I applaud the Fox affiliates that refuse to air the interview.
Editorial: Crime shouldn't pay; don't buy the O.J. book
Editorial, THE BOSTON GLOBE
Monday, November 20, 2006
Normally, we do not comment on books we haven't read, but in the case of O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It," we'll make an exception. This supposed tell-all degrades the publishing business and calls into question the integrity of everyone responsible for putting it into print or arranging the TV interviews to publicize its release. No one should buy it, or watch the two-part interview that will precede its release Nov. 30. And advertisers should shun the programs as well.
According to Simpson's attorney, only one chapter will focus on the murder of Simpson's former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994. The account will be accompanied by a disclaimer that it is fiction, the lawyer said.
But Judith Regan, publisher of the book, told the Associated Press: "I consider this his confession." She hopes to profit from the widespread belief that Simpson, despite his acquittal in the killings, really was the murderer and is now offering a first-person account of how he stabbed two people to death.
In a civil case, a jury found Simpson responsible for the deaths, but the families of the victims have collected only a couple of thousand dollars of the $33.5 million judgment. They would be right to try to seize whatever Simpson is making from the book, but it is likely he will try to hide the money in some foreign account or other shadowy vehicle. Anyone who buys "If I Did It" should assume that he or she is funneling money directly to Simpson.
Much of the profit also will go to Regan's ReganBooks, part of the Rupert Murdoch media empire. Murdoch's Fox network will air Simpson's two-part interview with Regan that will precede publication. Murdoch properties are known for their edgy offerings, but this one goes too far. NBC is to be commended for turning down an offer to televise a Simpson interview. It didn't want to be an accomplice in Simpson's attempt to profit from crime. Any company tempted to buy advertising on the Fox programs should be aware that it would be abetting this repugnant act by Simpson and the network.
But readers will be tempted by what promises to be a lurid tale, and on Thursday, the book was already No. 33 on the Amazon.com sales list. Its presence there provoked a lively discussion, with comments ranging from "disgusting" to "Glad Amazon is staying out of the book censoring business."
No one is saying ReganBooks should be prevented from publishing "If I Did It." U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect the rights of murderers, convicted or not, to write and profit from books about their crimes. Only the moral sensibility of readers, viewers and advertisers will prevent publishers from putting out more first-person accounts of murders. "If I Did It" should be left to molder unbought in the remainder bins.
I intend to boycott the book, Fox TV, and any advertisers that I hear sponsor the show.
Looks like the book won't be published Look (
http://www.dontpayoj.com/)
WE WON!
Thanks to you, the killer’s book will never see the light of day. His narcissistic and self-serving two-hour TV “special” won’t pollute the nation’s airwaves. America took a hard look at the filth Fox, Harper Collins, and Regan Publishing wanted to spread around and said NO! No more celebration of evil! No more exploitation of the deaths of two wonderful people! America said NO!
And you did it! 58,000 of you (and still counting) signed the petition in just 4 days. Thousands of you flooded phone lines and e-mail boxes and let the nation’s media elite know how you felt. You stood up to them. And, like any other bully, they turned tail and ran. Your voices were heard! Thank you for helping to spare our families, other Victims of Crime and the American public, from the additional and unnecessary pain these callous companies inflicted upon us.
We can not express enough the heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to each and every one of you, who has continued to support the efforts of our family for the last 12 years. But truthfully this last week … we were ALL victimized by this horrific and insensitive situation – and to know that we fought this battle together is truly remarkable. We are humbled and inspired by your ongoing commitment to justice on behalf of Ron and Nicole. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.