In the glamorous context of celebrity, the stories behind the glitz and glam are usually obfuscated by an often tabloid-style media attention. One of those less known stories, but nevertheless full of heavy emotional baggage, is Aaren Simpson, daughter of ex-NFL superstar/actor O.J. Simpson and his first wife Marguerite Whitley. We’ve all seen O.J. Simpson on the news or in print media, maybe in sports articles for his achievements, and more recently, certainly not for good reasons or achievements. Very few, if any, know much about his daughter Aaren, besides that she lived a very short 3 years, and unfortunately, passed away. This article dives into little information there is about Aaren Simpson, the family background, and the emotional fallout associated with Aaren Simpson, a little life cut short that causes confusion and emotions years later.
Aaren Simpson’s Early Life
Aaren Lashone Simpson was born in the USA on September 24, 1977, the youngest child of O.J. Simpson and Marguerite Whitley, and younger sister to Arnelle Simpson and Jason Simpson. The time of Aaren’s birth marked a joyful time for O.J. Simpson, who was emerging from the successful, post-football career as a broadcaster and actor after a brilliant time with the Buffalo bills in the National Football League (NFL).
Aaren was born into what looked like a successful and thriving family to the outside observer. The Simpsons appear to be enjoying great wealth from their success, with the fame that came along as part of their celebrity-driven lives in Los Angeles when they mingled with other celebrities. Behind the scenes, however, it was reported that the family suffered some family issues with the significant celebrity status of O.J. Simpson and the limitations of his work responsibilities taking him away from the family.
In the midst of the family turmoil, Aaren was said to be a happy and curious child, filled with zeal and promise, according to family friends. As the youngest member of the family, Aaren represented an exciting new chapter in the Simpson’s family life. There was happiness for the family during a time when O.J. was riding high in the “public eye”.
A Tragic Accident
Aaren Simpson’s early life ended in tragedy one-month shy of her 2nd birthday. Aaren was involved in a tragic accident in August 1979 when she drowned in the family pool at their home in Los Angeles. Although reports vary, it is believed that Aaren was found unresponsive, rushed to the hospital and put on life support, but succumbed to respiratory failure a few days later on August 26, 1979. The Simpson family was devastated by this event. The public was not as fully aware of the event at the time. Aaren’s death has left an unchangeable where it happened too soon and tragically. It is one of the many sad events in O.J. Simpson’s personal life, and before the media would loom over the Simpson family years later.
When compared to the storm of media attention due to O.J. Simpson’s legal discoveries and trials through convicting lead in the 1990s, the media barely focused on Aaren Simpson’s death. It was in age where media was restricted to print and television media. The Simpson family was likely doing its best to keep it under wraps.
Marguerite Whitley is Aaren’s mother. She was no less troubled by it. It coincided with an already troubled marriage with O.J. Simpson. In fact, O.J. and Marguerite would separate some short time after Aaren’s death with divorce occurring later that same year. Notably, it is difficult to determine causation, but Aaren’s death contributed to reasons why the family was under emotional strain.
The family had a private funeral for Aaren. Also, Aaren was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. To this day, Aaren’s grave is a quiet place that remained so from the publicity that would follow the name Simpson later on. The Neglected Simpson Child
A tragic aspect of Aaren Simpson’s tale is the degree to which she is mentioned in the grander scheme of the Simpson family. Countless documentaries, books, and media back-and-forths about O.J. Simpson’s life contain scant mention of Aaren. Most will agree her name was noted only vaguely during the height of the O.J. Simpson trial in the mid-1990s.
Many believe that people have shied away from mentioning Aaren out of respect and a desire to keep the memory of Aaren protected from the media frenzy that was her father’s life, once again in 1995. Others have a different assessment altogether: the grief was so raw and painful that even those that were closest to the family couldn’t talk about Aaren. Sadly, there is a plethora of people who would argue Aaren is the “forgotten Simpson child” — a tragic story diminished in the shadow of her family’s notoriety.
O.J. Simpson’s Thoughts About Aaren
While O.J. has infrequently spoken out publicly about Aaren, those who have followed O.J.’s life will emphatically state that Aaren’s tragic fate impacted him. In rare interviews when O.J. spoke about his family life, he alluded to an overwhelming loss personally and the feeling of failure personally. Much of O.J.’s public persona has been built upon scandal, but Aaren represents a personal and humanistic portion of O.J.’s story that is often ignored. Friends and former acquaintances have shared that there were times Simpson seemed to be emotionally vacant or haunted, which are possibly signs of his lingering grief surrounding Aaren’s death. He has neither written nor publicly stated any dedications to her, but those close to him believe that she exists, so to speak, in some private sense in the minds of her family members who survived her.
A Legacy Remembered in Silence
Aaren Simpson may not have lived long enough to create a legacy defined by a life of accomplishments or a personal narrative, marked by milestones. Rather, her brief existence serves as a painful reminder of the shortness of life, even for those that seem to have everything. The story of Aaren is a story of unrealized potential, private mourning, and the silent sorrow of a family thrust into the public spotlight for reasons unrelated to their personal loss.
Aaren has and will have online memorials and digital spaces dedicated to her memory and all of these small things have helped to incite her memory. In the digital time capsule we live in, which preserves the past with the ability to honor it, Aaren’s existence has slowly come to light again to those interested in unearthing all aspects of famous families.
Conclusion
The story of Aaren Simpson is not like the other stories of fame, fortune, and controversy that make up the episodic story of the Simpson name and legacy. Rather, it is a story about a life ended too quickly, of a family fractured by tragedy, and of the silence following a heartbreaking loss. While discussions and analysis about O.J. Simpson will continue, hopefully, other people will begin to remember Aaren for who she was — an innocent child who brought joy to her family for a short time.
The discussion of Aaren is more than just honoring her origin. By discussing Aaren Simpson we also bring attention to one of the critical components of public figures that is often obscured by layers of media coverage and misrepresentation; which is that they have a human dimension. Aaren may not have had the ability to develop into an adult or a member of society, but her story is an important part of how we begin to understand the human side of the family and name so defined by its inauspicious reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who was Aaren Simpson?
Aaren Simpson was the youngest daughter of O.J. Simpson and Marguerite Whitley. Born in 1977, she tragically passed away in 1979 after drowning in the family’s swimming pool.
2. How did Aaren Simpson die?
Aaren died as a result of an accidental drowning in August 1979. She was placed on life support but passed away due to respiratory failure a few days later.
3. Is Aaren Simpson often mentioned in the media?
No, Aaren is rarely mentioned in media coverage about the Simpson family, primarily because her death occurred before the era of intense media scrutiny that later followed her father.
4. Where is Aaren Simpson buried?
She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, where her grave remains a quiet place of remembrance.
5. Did Aaren Simpson have any siblings?
Yes, Aaren had two older siblings: Arnelle Simpson and Jason Simpson, both of whom have remained largely out of the spotlight in recent years.
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