O.J. Simpson‘s kids — especially the children he shared with Nicole Brown Simpson — have remained relatively out of the public eye since his infamous murder trial.
O.J. became a father when he tied the knot with Marguerite Whitley in 1967. The pair expanded their family three times before their split in 1979. O.J. subsequently found love with Nicole, whom he was married to from 1985 to 1992 and shared two kids with.
Despite his successful NFL career, O.J. was most well-known for being accused of murdering Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman after they were found stabbed to death outside of her Los Angeles home in 1994.
O.J. was acquitted after a high-profile trial, but was later found liable for the wrongful death of and battery against Goldman in a civil suit filed by Goldman’s family. O.J. was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the victim’s families.
At the time, O.J. and Nicole’s kids — daughter Sydney and son Justin — were both under 10 years old. They remained with their father when he moved to Florida and ultimately stood by his side after he faced more legal issues when they were both adults.
O.J. was found guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery in 2007 in Las Vegas. He served nine years in a Nevada prison before being granted an early release in July 2017. After a private battle with cancer, O.J.’s family announced in April 2024 that he died at age 76.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” read a message from the family. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
Keep scrolling to see where O.J.’s kids are now:
Arnelle Simpson
O.J. ‘s eldest child was his first daughter with wife Marguerite. Arnelle publicly showed support for his father when she served as a defense witness at O.J.’s 1995 murder trial. Arnelle testified that her dad was “very upset, emotional, confused” when he was told about Nicole Brown Simpson’s death, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Arnelle also spoke at O.J.’s 2017 parole hearing when he asked for a chance for their family to “move forward.”
“As a family, we recognize he’s not the perfect man,” she said at the time, according to CBS. “But as a man and a father he has done his best to behave in a way that speaks to his overall nature and character.”
Arnelle told Georgia Newsday in 2014 that she worked for a rapper and produced some fashion shows. She also appeared in several documentaries including the 2014 series OJ: Trial of the Century. She remained close to O.J. until his death.
Jason Simpson
Footage from Netflix’s American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson, which was released in January 2025, showed the famous 1994 Bronco chase that ended with Jason meeting his father at his Brentwood home. Police officers who were interviewed for the special recalled not knowing that Jason was O.J. and Marguerite’s son, which is why he was handcuffed by the police and led back into the house when he tried to approach O.J.
The Los Angeles Times reported in 2016 that Jason was a chef and culinary director at a restaurant in Atlanta. Jason gave a rare interview in 2021 for “The Food That Binds” podcast where he mentioned his father.
“There was a time when my dad was famous, and there was a time when he was infamous,” he recalled. “And I know that when he was famous, I didn’t want him around then because I didn’t want him to take away from something I took very serious, which was cooking.”
Jason explained his decision to keep a low profile.
“Sometimes, people are aggressive and sometimes people want to find out what’s going on with you, and they don’t, often they don’t have the best intentions,” he explained. “They don’t care if you have a job with supportive people who care about you and think the world of you, because there’s nothing that doesn’t sell.”
Aaren Simpson
O.J. and Marguerite welcomed their third child, daughter Aaren, in 1977. She died by accidental drowning shortly before turning 2 in 1979, which O.J. briefly addressed during a 2004 interview on the Today Show.
“I mean, I never have. You know, I don’t want to discuss it,” he said about how he and his ex-wife dealt with their daughter’s drowning, adding that the pair “never discussed” her passing. “It’s sad that it happened. It was a tremendous loss. We dealt with it. We moved on.”
O.J. and Marguerite’s marriage was revisited in Lifetime’s The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson where a neighbor, a Los Angeles police officer and Marguerite’s sister, Veterdata Jones, accused O.J. of domestic violence toward Marguerite.
“It was in a residential neighborhood that is off Mulholland Drive and west of the San Diego Freeway. We got to the home and we were met at the door by a woman. She had got into an argument with her husband and during the course of the argument he became violent with her,” retired Los Angeles police officer Terry Schauer recalled about arriving on the scene. “He struck her and as I recall, he pulled out some of her hair. My memory is that there was a clump of hair on the floor in the entryway of the home.”
Lifetime featured a message at the end of the segment, which read, “Marguerite Simpson has publicly denied any domestic abuse by O.J. Simpson.”
Sydney Simpson
O.J. and Nicole welcomed daughter Sydney in 1985. Sydney was 8 years old when Nicole died and was initially raised by Nicole’s side of the family before being placed back in O.J. ‘s custody after he was acquitted. The Browns fought for custody of Sydney and Justin until 2006, when they were no longer minors.
Before his death, O.J. discussed raising Sydney as a single parent, telling the Today Show in 2004, “My biggest problem and probably when I think of Nicole the most is with girls. [Their] problems are more emotional. Guys [do] dumb things and you can deal with that.”
He continued: “Sometimes I feel that maybe I made a mistake by choosing not to get involved and bringing another woman into the house. If that’s hurt anyone, I think it may hurt Sydney to some degree. But fortunately for me, there’s no usual piercings and no tattoos. And she’s an honor student. And she got accepted to a real fine school. I think I’m ahead of the game.”
Sydney earned a degree in sociology from Boston University and briefly lived in Atlanta before settling down in Florida. Sydney pursued a career in real estate and owned properties in Florida, according to a 2016 article from Tampa Bay Times.
Sydney has remained in contact with members of Nicole’s family over the years. Nicole’s sister Dominique Brown has remained in contact with Sydney and Justin while her sister Tanya Brown hasn’t. Denise Brown admitted in the doc that her decision to be outspoken about O.J. in an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence, made it hard to remain close with Nicole’s children.
Denise was told by producers of the 2024 Lifetime special that they were able to track down court documents confirming multiple issues with the law during Sydney and Justin’s time living with O.J. in Florida.
“By our count, there was close to 17 police reports we found. There was a series of 911 calls about violence inside the house,” the offscreen producer mentioned. “These were anonymous calls. They couldn’t do anything because they couldn’t determine where there was any truth to it.”
Justin Simpson
O.J. and Nicole’s youngest child was only 5 years old when his mom was murdered outside the house as he slept.
“He’s a remarkable kid in that even when he’s got other things on his mind, he has a tendency to turn it inward,” O.J. told the Today show in 2004. “And he’ll go to his room and do what he has to do. And you know, quite often, I’ll say, ‘What’s on your mind? What’s going on? Did something happen in school today?’ Or maybe he split up with his girlfriend or something.”
He continued: “He’s always pretty reluctant to get into it. He says, ‘Oh, Dad, I’ll be alright. Just leave me alone. I’ll be alright.’”
Justin spoke with Tampa Bay Times in 2016 about living in Florida after the release of FX’s The People vs. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story. He has worked in real estate and revealed in 2022 that he was expecting a child with his partner.
Justin’s godfather, David Brobeck, discussed his “good life” after O.J. ‘s death, telling People in April 2024, “[Sydney and Justin are] grown up, and they have their own families now, and they’re doing really well. They’re solid solid people and parents, and we just wish them all the best and give them lots of love.”
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