O.J. Simpson’s attempt to reinvent himself as a prank-show star reportedly became frighteningly real when an argument erupted behind the scenes. Todd Lewis, the director and producer of Simpson’s controversial 2006 project “Juiced,” recalled seeing the former NFL star become visibly angry during a confrontation captured by the production. The tense exchange is revisited in Investigation Discovery’s new docuseries, “O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil,” which examines how the ill-fated prank show was conceived, filmed, and ultimately released.
A preview for the docuseries obtained by TMZ shows Simpson getting into an argument with Lewis while cameras were rolling. During the exchange, Simpson called the producer racist, a remark Lewis said crossed a line and genuinely upset him.
Lewis claimed he initially tried to avoid escalating the confrontation because he did not know how Simpson might react. However, the disagreement continued to intensify.
The producer recalled looking at Simpson and said he “saw anger in his eyes.” Lewis admitted that he was unsure what might happen next, transforming what was supposed to be entertainment into a moment of genuine uncertainty.
The clip offers a glimpse at what the docuseries describes as an increasingly volatile atmosphere surrounding the troubled production.
‘Juiced’ Tried To Turn O.J. Simpson Into A Prank Star
5Released as a pay-per-view special and on DVD in 2006, “Juiced” featured Simpson using costumes, disguises and his own notoriety to fool unsuspecting participants. In one segment, he posed as a salesman attempting to sell a white Ford Bronco, intentionally referencing the vehicle that became forever linked to his 1994 police chase.
Other sketches featured Simpson dressed as an Elvis Presley impersonator and pretending to have an affair with another man’s girlfriend.
The format resembled the celebrity prank shows that were popular during the era, but Simpson’s highly controversial public image made the project far more provocative.
Simpson had been acquitted in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. A civil jury later found him liable for their wrongful deaths and ordered him to pay more than $33 million in damages.
The creators of “Juiced” attempted to use that notoriety as the foundation of the show, frequently building jokes around moments associated with Simpson’s criminal case.
New Docuseries Revisits The Troubled Production
5“O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil” uses previously unreleased footage and interviews with people involved in creating “Juiced” to examine how the project unfolded. The four-part series looks beyond the pranks to explore the ethical questions surrounding an entertainment production built around one of the most polarizing figures in American popular culture.
According to PEOPLE, the behind-the-scenes material includes Simpson discussing the murder case, commenting on the Ford Bronco, and becoming increasingly comfortable around people participating in the pranks.
The documentary also examines whether “Juiced” was intended to repair Simpson’s public image or simply capitalize on the attention surrounding him.
O.J. Simpson Was Arrested One Year Later
5The prank special arrived shortly before Simpson became involved in another criminal case. On September 13, 2007, Simpson and several other men confronted two sports memorabilia dealers inside a room at the Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas.
Simpson maintained that he was attempting to recover personal items that had been stolen from him. However, at least one person accompanying him displayed a firearm, and the memorabilia dealers were prevented from leaving the room during the confrontation.
A Las Vegas jury convicted Simpson on all 12 charges in October 2008. The counts included armed robbery and kidnapping with a deadly weapon.
The verdict came exactly 13 years after he was acquitted in the criminal trial over the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman. Simpson was sentenced to a maximum of 33 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after nine years. He served his sentence at Nevada’s Lovelock Correctional Center.
The Former NFL Star Was Released In 2017
5Simpson was granted parole in July 2017 and left prison on October 1 of that year after serving nine years. Nevada officials ended his parole early in December 2021 because he had received credits for good behavior, according to NBC News.
Simpson died from cancer on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76.
The four-part documentary event premieres Monday, September 7, and continues Tuesday, September 8, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Investigation Discovery. Episodes will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
