OJ Simpson Calls Derek Chauvin Case 'a Classic Case of Depraved Indifference' Ahead of Verdict

The famously acquitted celebrity and former NFL star, O.J. Simpson, expressed his views on the impending verdict in Derek Chauvin's murder trial, releasing a video Tuesday in which he called the incident a "classic case of depraved indifference."

Simpson released a selfie video Tuesday which responded to California Congresswoman Maxine Waters' calls for more "confrontation" should the verdict be decided in Chauvin's favor this week. He defended Waters but cautioned "your words matter." Simpson said he is personally hoping for a conviction of Chauvin, who is accused of killing George Floyd, in the trial because he "deserves it," but he declined to say whether he thinks the former Minneapolis police officer should be convicted on all charges, which include second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Simpson repeatedly described the death of Floyd on May 25 last year as a glaring example of "unnecessary force" from police officers.

"When I first saw it, I thought it was a classic case of depraved indifference, I thought it was unnecessary force and no matter which side you're on, I think everyone would pretty much have to agree that if those deputies and if Chauvin would have gotten off George Floyd, there was no chance Goerge Floyd was going to get up and try to run," Simpson said Tuesday in video posted to his Twitter account, which appears to have been recorded on a golf course.

"And there was no chance he was going to get up and try to attack them handcuffed. It didn't seem like it was his personality, it seemed like the use of force was totally unnecessary," Simpson continued.

"I do hope there's some kind of verdict, a conviction, I think the man deserves it, to what degree? You've got to let the jury speak. It's the American way."

Simpson addressed remarks earlier this week from Waters, who told Minneapolis area protesters to be prepared for confrontation should the jury's verdict acquit Chauvin. Republicans in Congress have blasted the remarks as "inciting violence," prompting accusations of hypocrisy in the wake of the deadly January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

"I understood what [Waters] was saying, that was a call to arms, not necessarily physical arms, but a cause to come out and work and vote. But she's got to understand that her words matter and she's got to be a lot clearer in how she says them because you can't be critical of the other side during the insurrection when they were saying 'get out and fight, you've got to fight' and criticize what they were saying when they claimed later on that they meant pretty much what Maxine Waters meant."

Simpson added, "You would think these polticians would communicate a lot better than what they've been doing."

Newsweek reached out to representatives for Simpson for additional comment Tuesday afternoon.