The death of OJ Simpson caused news media around the world to relive his past, primarily centered around the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman and the subsequent trial in which he was found not guilty. A later civil trial found Simpson liable for $33 million in the deaths.
The primary reason most cited for Simpson being found not guilty was the testimony of lead LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman. Furman perjured himself and was accused of planting evidence. Audio tapes Fuhrman made during the previous decade showed the detective discussing how police officers routinely beat suspects, planted evidence, and committed perjury, as was alleged in the Simpson case. Many of the tapes revealed Fuhrman’s misogyny and contempt for female officers. He agreed to a $200 fine and three years probation and resigned in disgrace from the LAPD.
While other networks' coverage discussed Mark Fuhrman’s role in the trial and outcome, Fox News generally left Fuhrman out of its coverage. Ignoring the fact that Fuhrman is still a Fox News correspondent, as he has been for several years, Fox News highlighted his presence when covering Simpson’s live 2017 parole hearing.
Related: How O.J. Simpson Affected Race in America
Fuhrman is currently listed as a Fox Correspondent; this is how they describe him on their website:
“Mark Fuhrman currently serves as a forensic and crime scene expert for FOX News Channel (FNC).
Prior to contributing for FNC, Fuhrman was an on-air consultant for ABC, CBS and Court TV. He also served as a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detective for 20 years, where he rose to fame as a key investigator and was a witness in the O.J. Simpson trial. Fuhrman received more than 55 official commendations during his 20 years with the LAPD.
Fuhrman is an established author whose books have been New York Times bestsellers. Three of his books have been optioned for film rights, and “Murder in Greenwich” was produced by Sony Pictures TV, airing on the USA Network in November 2002.
Fuhrman is also the host of the Spokane, WA radio show, ‘The Mark Fuhrman Show.’”
It isn’t unusual for news networks to hire subject matter experts to flesh out their commentary and provide credible background material. Some may even be controversial. None have been proven more unreliable than Fuhrman, who was exposed by his own words in the infamous “Fuhrman Tapes.”
I understand why Fox News Channel would ignore the former detective in their coverage, as it would remind America of its association with him. I offer as a reminder of who Fuhrman is through his own words. Decide for yourself why Fox News would associate itself with a racist or misogynist.
‘I had 66 allegations of brutality: AEW, under color of authority, assault and battery under color authority. Torture, all kinds of stuff,’
‘Four suspects ran into a 2nd story in a apartment projects — apartment. We kicked the door down. We grabbed a girl that lived there, one of their girlfriends. Grabbed her by the hair and stuck a gun to her head, and used her as a barricade. Walked up and told them: “I’ve got this girl, I’ll blow her f****** brains out, if you come out with a gun. Held her like this — threw the b**** down the stairs — deadbolted the door — Let’s play, boys.’
‘That we’ve got females …and dumb n******, and all your Mexicans that can’t even write the name of the car they drive.’
‘Commander Hickman, was a d*******. He should be shot. He did that for one thing. He wants to be chief, so he wants the city council, and the police commissioner, and all these n****** in L.A. City government and all of ’em should be lined up against a wall and f******’ shot.’
‘People there don’t want n****** in their town. People there don’t want Mexicans in their town. They don’t want anybody but good people in their town, and anyway you can do to get them out of there that’s fine with them. We have no n****** where I grew up.’
‘First thing, anything out of a n*****’s mouth for the first five or six sentences is a f****** lie. That is just right out. There has got to be a reason why he is going to tell you the truth.’
“I’m the key witness in the biggest case of the century. And if I go down, they lose the case. The glove is everything. Without the glove — bye, bye.”
In 1983, a dozen years before the OJ trial, Fuhrman attempted to sue the LAPD for retirement benefits based upon stress. He acknowledged a propensity for uncontrollable violence. The LAPD and a Superior Court Judge found that Fuhrman wasn’t credible.
During the trial, the prosecution and defense stated that Fuhrman was a bad cop. The jury only heard two of the more than 40 times Fuhrman used the N-word on tape. They didn’t hear anything about planting evidence, perjury, and assault, but Fox News and the rest of the nation heard it all. Fox News hired Fuhrman anyway.
It was disingenuous for Fox to omit Fuhrman in their coverage of Simpson’s death. They pick and choose when they want to be associated with racists and misogynists. Fox may want us to forget Mark Fuhrman’s role in the trial, but he's top of mind.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.
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