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Everyone Hates the O.J. Book, O.J. and Judith Regan

Jen Chung

Published Nov 18, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008

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Jen Chung

Published Nov 18, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008

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Can we just never hear about O.J. Simpson again? The whole idea the book and planned TV special from O.J. Simpson who explains how he would have killed his wife if he did it is just so disgusting and exploitive, we can't believe it was ever allowed. But we're naive and such is life, and the story has been getting crazier, with the book's publisher Judith Regan issued a statement saying she published the book because she was a victim of abuse.

I made the decision to publish this book, and to sit face to face with the killer, because I wanted him, and the men who broke my heart and your hearts, to tell the truth, to confess their sins, to do penance and to amend their lives....

...To publish does not mean 'to endorse'; it means 'to make public.' 'If you doubt that, ask the mainstream publishers who keep Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' in print to this day. ... There is historical value in such work ... for anyone who wants to gain insight into the mind of a sociopath.'

Regan's alleged abuser David Buckley, says to the Post, "I feel victimized that she uses this as a way to make her living." He adds that his "physical aggression" towards Regan was "nothing more than playground tussles."

The Daily News has made shaming the Simpson book its mission. In its cover story, Fox News star Bill O'Reilly rants about it damning potential sponsors of the special. (Of course, Fox News and the book's publisher Harper Collins are both owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.) And the Daily News has an editorial about the book. Here's the beginning:

If we were writing an editorial about Judith Regan today, we would say should have kept her mouth shut about what a shining angel of mercy she is, selflessly advocating on behalf of all battered women, bringing them dignity, worth, surcease from sorrow, etc., etc.

If any of that were slightly true, Regan would not have put her boss Rupert Murdoch's blood money into a "third-party" deal with O.J. Simpson that essentially guarantees that the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman - among the very people for whom her saintly heart so bleeds - cannot collect a dime of the several million dollars O.J. is waltzing away with. Yeah, screw them.

There's also a thoughtful essay from the president of the National Organization of Women, Kim Gandy, who writes:

As for Judith Regan's justification that publishing this book provides victims like her some closure, survivors of violence have their own ways of healing. That is not for me to analyze.

I just hope that Regan did everything in her power to ensure that any funds that come from the book go to victims of violence."

Of course, many critics of the book and Fox special airing next week are urging the public not to buy or watch the show. Regan says she bought the rights to the book through a third party, thinking the money would go to Simpson's children, but a lawyer for the family of Ronald Goldman, who was killed along with Simpson's ex-wife, may sue for part of the proceeds.

Barnes & Noble and Borders will be carrying the book. Borders says they will donate their profits to charity while Barnes & Noble says they are stocking the book like they do most any book. What's sad is that even if people don't buy the book, they'll be drawn to the stores out of curiosity.

Photograph of Judith Regan at speaking during her Sirius satellite show on Thursday by Richard Drew/AP

Tagged

abuse

adolf hitler

arts

Bill O

books

celebrities

charity

children

daily news

david

fox

fox news

gossip

judith regan

media

money

National Organization

news

news corp

Nicole Brown SImpson

O.J. Simpson

people

publishing

Richard Drew

Ronald Goldman

rupert murdoch