Decades after the 1994 death of her sister, Nicole Brown Simpson, Denise Brown has committed her life to addressing the complexities of domestic violence. As she prepares to release her new bookFor My Sister Nicole: Love Shouldn’t Hurt – What to Know About Domestic ViolenceBrown reflects on the warning signs she once failed to recognize. She intends for her work to serve as a resource for those in dangerous relationships, offering guidance on safety planning and identifying abusive cycles. Nicole looked out of the window. “All of a sudden she goes, ‘Oh my God, there he is. Trying to get a glimpse of her sister’s ex-husband, the former American football star OJ Simpson. “I saw these headlights, brown looked out.
The morning of 13 June 1994 remains etched in Brown’s memory. While staying at her parents’ Orange County home, she was awakened by a distressing sound—a cry from her mother that she described as guttural and inhuman. A detective from the Los Angeles Police Department soon informed her that 35-year-old Nicole and her friend, Ron Goldman, had been found stabbed to death outside her residence. When the officer asked who might be responsible, Brown immediately identified O.J. Simpson, noting that she felt it in her heart and soul. According to the following morning, 13 June 1994, Brown was up early at her parents’ house in Orange County in southern California, when the phone rang shortly after 6am. “I heard my mom scream a scream that I had never heard from a human being,”, Brown. “It was so guttural.
Reflecting on the relationship, Brown acknowledges that she initially lacked the vocabulary to understand domestic abuse. In the 1990s, the term “battered woman” was widely used, yet she and her family failed to see the systemic nature of the violence until they reviewed Nicole’s private diaries after her death. She recalls the early days of their relationship, noting that when they met, Nicole was only 18 while Simpson was around 30, allowing him to exert significant influence over her. They went back to talking about their plans for the summer. Everything started flashing back into my head. Everything over the 17 years.”, everything about her relationship. Now she is about to publish a book, For My Sister Nicole. “I feel like after 32 years I’ve learned a lot, and I thought it was time,” she says, when we speak over Zoom. “I want this book to save lives.”.
Brown recounts a disturbing incident in Los Angeles when a dinner gathering turned volatile. Following an argument, Simpson destroyed photographs in the home, threw Nicole’s belongings from a closet, and physically assaulted her against a wall. Despite the severity of the encounter, Nicole later dismissed the event as a consequence of excessive drinking. Brown admits that at the time, she viewed these episodes as isolated incidents rather than a predictable pattern of behavior.
The history of abuse was documented, including an instance where Nicole requested that Brown photograph her injuries. In 1989, Simpson received a sentence of community service for spousal abuse, though the family struggled to have open discussions about the underlying danger. Brown notes that leaving an abuser is rarely straightforward, as victims often face threats and psychological manipulation that undermine their confidence. Even after the couple’s 1992 divorce, Simpson continued to track Nicole’s movements, an ongoing harassment that Nicole reported to the police just months before she was killed.
Following the murders, the subsequent criminal trial became a massive media event, characterized by intense public scrutiny and televised proceedings. Simpson was acquitted of the criminal charges in 1995 but was found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil trial. Years later, he served prison time for separate convictions of armed robbery and kidnapping, eventually passing away in 2024 after his release in 2017.
Brown expresses frustration regarding the lack of government funding for domestic violence shelters, noting that many facilities face closure. She continues to campaign actively, stating that she feels a personal obligation to help others. Her advocacy extends to broader social issues, such as the recent investigation into alleged misconduct at Cornell University. She emphasizes that understanding the dynamics of power and control is essential, as she aims to empower families to intervene before tragedy occurs.