by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Nov. 24, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

ewsCorp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch cancelled the snake-bit brainchild of HaperCollins' tabloid-type publishing division chief Judith Regan—a new book and interview about the sensational 1994 O.J. murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman titled, “If I Did It.” Regan, who heads her own division bearing the imprint Regan Books, apparently had corporate approval, believing there's still cash for O.J. trash, watching money-making books published by O.J. prosecutors Marcia Clark, Christopher Darden and the late defense attorney Johnnie L. Cochran. Regan reportedly paid O.J. $3.5 million to have former prosecution witness Pablo Fenjves ghostwrite what Regan hyped as O.J.'s “confession.” While there's no confirmation of the actual dollar amount, there's no question that Regan Books skirted Simpson's 1996 $33.5 million civil judgment..

      Regan signed onto the project knowing the avalanche of negative publicity likely to hit HarperCollins and Fox networks. Judging by recent interviews with O.J., it's clear that Regan books pushed the book-deal and interview, believing it could salvage sagging ratings from Fox's fall lineup. Calling the project “O.J.'s confession,” Regan justified the venture, despite the costly price tag and adverse publicity. “This lady [Regan] probably thinks I did it and I didn't,” O.J. told Miami's WTPS-AM,” adding, “I said, ‘I have nothing to confess.'” O.J.'s consistent denials raise questions about Regan's statement that she believed O.J. confessed. It's no accident that Fenjves, a prosecution witness in O.J.'s criminal trial, works as a ghostwriter for Regan Books. Knowing O.J. was desperate for money, it was easy getting the former Heisman Trophy and NFL Hall-of-Famer to take the bait.

      Yanking Regan's project came after mounting outrage stemming from Fred and Kim Goldman's pleas on CNN's “Larry King Live.” “He destroyed my son and took from my family Ron's future and life. And for that I'll hate him always and find him despicable,” said Fred, begging Fox to show some decency and cancel the book and TV interview. When several Fox affiliates decided to boycott Regan's two-part interview, Murdoch had no choice but to pull the plug. “I have my own moral compass and this was easy,” said Bill Lamb, general manager of WDRB in Louisville. Pulling the combined show and book deal was unprecedented, leaving the TV and publishing worlds stunned. Calling the advanced payment “blood money,” O.J. gladly took the cash, though denied Regan's claim that “If I Did It” amounted to, as she sold it, a confession for the 1994 murders.

      O.J. denied having anything to do with the juicy title, enticing the public into believing the book and interview offered shocking new information. “I made it clear from the first day I met the writer that I wasn't involved [in the murders],” said Simpson, denying Regan's claim that the book deal and interview amounted to a confession. Claiming the money's already spent, O.J. insisted there's nothing left to satisfy the $33.5 million judgment. “Would everybody stop being so naïve? Of course I got paid,” said O.J. with a laugh. “I spend the money on my bills. It's gone,” admitting he violated the judgment and spent the cash. Regan Books made sure that O.J. skirted the judgment by paying some unnamed third-party. Whether the Goldman or Brown families have an action against Fox is anyone's guess. It's certain Regan Books paid O.J. in a manner to skirt the court order.

      Cochran, O.J.'s chief defense attorney, made certain that the trial was the most entertaining TV reality show in U.S. history. Never before had the public witnessed so closely the inner workings of criminal trials. Simpson watched along with millions of TV viewers the late Cochran dazzle jurors and witnesses, transforming ordinarily boring attorneys into instant celebrities, especially lead prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden. “In the course of the interview, I said, “This is blood money and I hope nobody reads it,” adding, “everybody who has written a book about this has taken blood money, you can't have selective morality,” said Simpson, reminding the voyeuristic public that the O.J. trial turned mere mortals into instant celebrities. Without the trial, Clark or even Cochran would have never become so famous and such household words.

      Murdock pulled the O.J book deal and interview because it threatened future revenue to his media empire. Regan's decision to move ahead with the deal showed incredibly bad judgment, leaving her publishing house and Fox in jeopardy. Regan didn't need to be psychic to figure out the adverse publicity, letting a double-murderer capitalize on his crimes. Public outrage hit a critical mass when Fred and Kim Goldman spilled their guts on “Larry King Live.” While Murdoch did the right thing, there's been no consequence to Judith Regan for dragging the Fox network through a knothole. Regan thought it was OK to exploit one of the world's most notorious figures to augment the bottom line. Had she consulted management and acted with any common sense, she would have anticipated the fallout. Simpson took the bait but Regan should have shown better judgment.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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