Feminist Peace Network

I have always wondered how television producers come up with all those ‘new’ holiday specials every year, but over at Fox it appears they are fresh out of ideas. This year, the Rupert

Murdoch-owned Fox Broadcasting will kick off the season with a 2 (count ‘em 2) night special on Nov. 27 and 29th entitled “O.J. Simpson: If I Did It, Here’s How It Happened in which Simpson “describes how he would have carried out the murders he has vehemently denied committing for over a decade.�

The show will be a “no holds barred� interview with publisher Judith Regan. Regan Books, also owned by Murdoch’s News Corporation is publishing Simpson’s book by the same title. According to Mike Darnell, Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming at Fox , “This is an interview that no one thought would ever happen.� No joke.

Both the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and the Family Prevention Fund are urging that you write to Regan Publishing and Fox to express your disapproval. Sue Else of NNEDV writes,

“Twelve years ago, the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman brought the issue of domestic violence from out of the shadows and into the public spotlight. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is extremely outraged to hear that OJ Simpson intends to release a book detailing how he could have murdered his ex-wife and her friend.

While Simpson was acquitted of their deaths in a criminal trial, he was found liable in a civil trial and ordered to pay restitution to the Brown and Goldman families. To date, Simpson has refused to comply with the court order. NNEDV and domestic violence advocates nationwide are appalled that he is instead attempting to cash in on their gruesome murders.

Even more disturbing is the impact this selfish, arrogant act will undoubtedly have on Nicole’s children – Sydney and Justin. They had to endure the grisly murder of their mother and the controversy of the trial against their father. How will they feel knowing that their father is not only profiting from their mother’s murder, but he is also offering a morbid, detailed description of how he could have done it?

Three women are murdered every day at the hands of their intimate partners. It is unconscionable to think that Simpson, ReganBooks, HarperCollins Publishers, and FOX would promote a how-to guide for killing your wife.

This book has no place in our society and only causes more grief for the Brown and Goldman families and for battered women and children across the country. Our hearts go out to the families being retraumatized by this senseless act of greed.

NNEDV urges the public to take a stand and let FOX, ReganBooks and HarperCollins know that we will not allow them to make abuse and murder acceptable in our communities. We also ask you to contact your local bookstores and FOX advertisers and ask them to withdraw their support from ReganBooks, HarperCollins and FOX.�

Esta Soler, President of the Family Violence Prevention Fund also urges action,

“Disgust and revulsion are the only possible reactions to the news that the Fox Network is planning a special in which O.J. Simpson will talk about how he would have murdered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, if he did it.‚ Two families suffered an unimaginable loss 12 years ago, and two children lost their mother. Now those children will see their father discuss or recreate the crime for entertainment and profit. It is beneath contempt.

We urge Fox to reconsider its decision to air this program. Affiliates should refuse to carry it, if the network proceeds with its plans. Advertisers should refuse to support it. Viewers should refuse to watch. And no responsible person should purchase the book on which it is based.

Violence against women is a costly and devastating problem in the U.S. On average, three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends each day and nearly 500 females over age 12 are victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. We must stop treating violence as entertainment and instead redouble our efforts to stop it.

A decade ago, a mother of two and a vital young man were brutally murdered. It‚s past time to stop exploiting this tragedy and instead put our energies into keeping women and children safe.�

You can contact Fox at:
feedback@foxinc.com
or call Fox at 310/369-3553 or its Viewer Comment Line at 310/369-3066,
or its Entertainment President Peter Liguori at 310/369-1000.

Regan Books can be contacted at (212) 207-7000.

Please feel free to distribute this action alert far and wide.

Many thanks to Cheryl O’Donnell at NNEDV and Lisa Lederer at Family Violence Prevention Fund for providing the above information.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Action Alerts