As noted earlier here, O.J. Simpson is appearing at a horror film convention this weekend in Northridge, California. As if Northridge doesn't have enough problems with fires all around and the smoke from them forcing school closures.
Most of the press coverage is headlined something like "Comics Show Plans Rare O.J. Simpson Appearance" (for example) but despite its name, NecroComicon really isn't a comic book convention. The other 30 or so announced guests are all people with credits in horror and slasher films and I only count two with a tenuous connection to comics.
The above-linked article includes the following…
Simpson agreed to show up at the NecroComicon show in Los Angeles for three days, starting on Friday night, as a favor to an unspecified friend who was paid in advance to arrange for the weekend appearance, according to the promoter, Tom Riccio.
Riccio said Simpson, who now lives in Florida, was "not getting a penny" for his visit, but was using the event as a possible trial run for future public appearances that he would make "in exchange for donations to his kids' college fund."
"A lot of promoters are watching this to see how it goes, and we're going to take it from there," Riccio said. Riccio said he would charge $95 for photos and T-shirts signed by Simpson, and $125 for autographed football jerseys and helmets. Riccio said he would keep whatever is left of the proceeds after paying for various expenses, including Simpson's travel costs.
So just as a favor to a friend, Simpson is going to get on a plane, fly 3000+ miles to Los Angeles, sign autographs for three days and let the convention promoter keep all the money. Do we believe this for a minute? His friend is getting paid. Al Cowlings, who'll be signing with him on Sunday is being paid. But Simpson, who needs money and wants to send his kids to college, is "not getting a penny?"
This whole thing smells, above and beyond the mere fact that a murderer is being treated like a Big Star. I mean, let's assume for a moment that O.J. Simpson has only the best possible motives; that he's turned into a benevolent soul who cares only about using his one remaining asset in the world — his fame, such as it is — for his kids. Does it make sense that he would give away all proceeds from his first public appearance? Why not have it go towards the college fund? For that matter, if this is a "test" appearance to see if he can raise money for that fund, wouldn't it be better to make it at a bigger convention, preferably one with better publicity and an emphasis on sports instead of death and murder? If O.J. wants to convince promoters to bring him to other events, he's sure going about it the hard way.