O.J. did book solely for ‘blood money’

updated 6:40 p.m. ET Nov. 26, 2006

MIAMI - O.J. Simpson told The Associated Press he participated in the ill-fated “If I Did It” book and interview project for one reason — personal profit, acknowledging that any financial gain was “blood money.”

“This was an opportunity for my kids to get their financial legacy,” Simpson said in interviews this week with the AP after the book deal was abandoned by its publisher. “My kids understand. I made it clear that it’s blood money, but it’s no different than any of the other writers who did books on this case.”

The book, said to describe how he theoretically would have committed the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, had been scheduled for release Nov. 30 following the airing of a two-part Simpson interview on Fox on Monday and Wednesday.

News Corp., owner of Fox Broadcasting and publisher HarperCollins, canceled the project after a public outcry and objections by advertisers and booksellers.

In a radio interview Wednesday, Simpson said the project was not a confession to the slayings. “I made it clear from the first day I met the writer that I wasn’t involved,” Simpson said in a telephone interview broadcast on Miami’s WTPS-AM. “I said, ’I have nothing to confess.”’

Goldman’s family, meanwhile, asked News Corp. to turn over its rights to the now-canceled book and interview, an attorney said Wednesday.

In two AP telephone interviews this week from his Florida home, Simpson declined to say how much of an advance he received for the book but said it was less than the $3.5 million that has been reported. He said the money has already been spent, including some he used to meet his tax obligations.

Book would have been a best-seller, Simpson says
Simpson said he was convinced the book would have been a best-seller.

“My kids would have been coming into a lot of money,” he said, adding he desperately needs the cash because his retirement funds are dwindling.

Prepublication sales for “If I Did It,” had been strong, but not sensational. It cracked the top 20 of Amazon.com last weekend but had fallen to No. 51 by the time the cancellation was announced.

With “If I Did It” now a collector’s item, interest is much higher. Purported copies of the book have already been offered on eBay, with bids reaching up to $65,000. A seller in Ridgefield Park, N.J., posted pictures of the front and back cover and the inside flap.

Ebay spokesman Hani Durzy said Wednesday that the online auction house has been removing the book from the site because of copyright concerns.

Simpson, 59, said he deserved harsh criticism for his role in the project, but he complained that News Corp. owner Rupert Murdoch got off easy.

“I’m taking heat and I deserve it,” Simpson said. “But Murdoch should not be taking the high road either.”

Publisher Judith Regan has portrayed the book as representing “O.J.’s confession,” and it reportedly contains a chapter where he explains how he could have committed the killings.

But the former football star says he didn’t commit the murders. He said the book was ghostwritten.

“When I saw what he wrote, I said, ‘Maybe you did it because they’re saying the chapter contains things only the killer would know.’ I don’t know these things,” Simpson said.

Simpson said Wednesday he never spoke to Regan until taping the TV interview.

“In the course of the interview I said, ’This is blood money and I hope nobody reads it,”’ Simpson told the AP.

He added, “Everybody who has written a book about this has taken blood money; you can’t have selective morality.”

Simpson said he was disappointed by Regan’s “confession” statement, although he noted, “I thought, ’This lady probably thinks I did it and I didn’t.”’

Simpson insisted he did not try to peddle the book to anyone, saying “a guy” he would not identify brought the proposal to one of his family members.

When Regan got involved, he said, he informed her he would not allow the book’s publication if it contained any graphic images.

“I told her I will not OK anything if you describe anyone cutting or stabbing,” he said.

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