Cuba Gooding Jr. talked to The Huffington Post, in a prior interview, regarding what he thinks about O.J. Simpson. Cuba, who portrayed O.J. in the 10-part FX series, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, had much to say about how he views the former NFL player’s brain health.
After doing countless hours of research for the role, Cuba said he learned so much about O.J., and has now come to a conclusion on what he believes about the troubled NFL legend. Cuba thinks O.J. may have the degenerative brain damaging disease, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) — a brain injury that was previously brought to light by the reality-based film, Concussion, starring Will Smith (who portrays forensic pathologist/neuropathologist, Dr. Omalu Bennett).
Here is what Cuba told Huffington Post (You can watch the video clip below):
“Every day [of filming] it was another revelation [about O.J. Simpson]. And I’ve been saying this in the [past] few months and I know that they’re making more announcements about it, but I think that after O.J. passes, if we have the opportunity to dissect his brain, you will find the CTE concussion syndrome. I believe that. You know, if you look at his professional career- he broke records in high school, he broke records in college, winning the Heisman trophy, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards in one season and only six other players have done that. In today’s NFL, which is 16 games per season, he did it in 14 games. The abuse his brain must have taken to achieve these things, I mean there has to be something to be said you know…it’s just so telling to me.”
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story focused on the case of O.J. Simpson’s trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The series also starred Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, and Sarah Paulson.
ILOSM fam’…if you’ve watched the series, do you now agree with Cuba regarding O.J.’s possible brain/mental health, or no?
