O. J. Simpson, a former NFL player and actor, was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, who were stabbed to death on 12 June 1994. The trial became known as "the trial of the century" due to its unprecedented international publicity, described as the "most publicised" criminal trial in history. The case drew massive media attention from the outset, interrupting major TV broadcasts like game 5 of the 1994 NBA Finals for live coverage of Simpson's low-speed Ford Bronco pursuit, watched by approximately 95 million people. This widespread attention significantly influenced public perception and the trial itself.