Key Highlights
- Norm Macdonald’s long-standing joke on O.J. Simpson
- Macdonald’s attempts to get Simpson on his show
- Ongoing tension between Macdonald and Simpson
- Macdonald’s evolving stance towards Simpson over the years
The Joke That Lasted Decades: Norm Macdonald’s War with O.J. Simpson
Norm Macdonald, the former Saturday Night Live Weekend Update host, has a reputation for making O.J. Simpson his perpetual punchline. It all started in 1995 when Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
Macdonald famously joked, “It is finally official, murder is legal in the state of California.”
Macdonald’s relentless mockery of Simpson continued for years, even though he faced warnings from NBC not to do so. The long-standing rumor was that Macdonald was fired from SNL due to his relationship with Simpson’s friend and former boss, Don Ohlmeyer.
The Golf Incident: A Coincidence Gone Wrong?
In 2017, Macdonald recounted a golfing encounter with Kato Kaelin during Simpson’s trial. “I was going to go up to him, but who was I with? Kato,” Macdonald told The Daily Beast. Meanwhile, Kaelin shared his own memory: “The girl I was with came to find me and said, ‘You won’t believe who’s here.
O.J. Simpson is golfing. He’s hitting on me.’ In my head I thought, ‘That’s so O.J.'”
These encounters were not the only attempts Macdonald made to meet Simpson. In 2011, while hosting his own sports show on Comedy Central, he reached out to Simpson for a sit-down interview with one condition: no mention of the murders.
The Podcast Connection: A Missed Opportunity?
Years later, Macdonald tried to speak with Simpson again for his podcast Norm Macdonald Live. “I thought I had O.J. and his lawyer said, ‘Oh yeah, O.J. will do it,’” he explained. “And then he came back and said, ‘Are you the Norm Macdonald that was on NBC?’ ‘Yeah.’ And he’s like, ‘O.J. said you were a little tough.'”
By 2019, Macdonald had some surprisingly positive things to say about Simpson. He referred to him as “the greatest rusher in the history of the NFL” during an appearance on Lights Out with David Spade. Even more curiously, he received a text message from Simpson thanking him for his comments and inviting him to play a game of golf.
A Changing Narrative: Macdonald’s Evolution
It’s unclear why these attempts didn’t pan out. Was it the legal issues? Or maybe Simpson’s own hesitance?
Whatever the reason, Macdonald’s stance seems to have softened over time. His mention of Simpson as “the greatest rusher in the history of the NFL” and the text message from Simpson suggest a new respect.
Norm Macdonald has always been a comedian with a sharp wit, but his relationship with O.J. Simpson is one that will likely be remembered for years to come.
From the early jokes to the possible golf game, this story is a testament to the lasting impact of Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update and its former host.
So, why did Macdonald try so hard to get Simpson on his show? And what does it say about their relationship?
You might think this is new, but… it’s been a long time coming. The comedy of Norm Macdonald has always had an edge, and O.J. Simpson was the perfect target for that razor-sharp humor.
