Nicole Brown Simpson's sister 'forgave' OJ Simpson before his death, despite being convinced he was guilty of murder. 

OJ Simpson became one of the most infamous figures in America after he was charged with the double 1994 murders of Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman.

Prior to OJ's death from cancer two weeks ago, Tanya Brown, 52, spoke to UK magazine Closer about her older sister's tumultuous relationship with the fallen football star.

The author and motivational speaker opened up about the gruesome murders - which left her sister nearly decapitated - and said although she had forgiven the footballer star, she would never forget.

She said to the publication: 'Nicole was the most wonderful person - she loved her kids and spent her life making others feel loved. 

Nicole Brown Simpson's sister Tanya Brown once said she 'knows' OJ Simpson 'did it' but has decided to 'forgive' him (pictured left to right: Nicole Brown Simpson with her younger sister Tanya)

OJ Simpson became one of the most infamous figures in America after he was charged with the 1994 murder of his ex wife Nicole (the former couple are pictured together)

'OJ was like a brother to me, but I know he did it. Over time, I've forgiven him, as I feel it's the only way to move forward - but I'll never forget'.

Though Nicole and OJ's seven-year marriage was rife with allegations of domestic abuse - including an incident in 1978 when he allegedly punched and kicked her in a hotel room for hours - Tanya shed a different light.

Looking back on her sister's marriage - which ended in divorce in 1992 - Tanya revealed that they appeared to be the 'perfect couple'.

She also spoke of her sister receiving expensive gifts from her multi-millionaire husband, including Italian luxury sports car Ferrari.

Tanya, who insisted her brother-in-law was always kind to her too, recalled how challenging it was to accept he was capable of murder, but said irrefutable DNA evidence at the time had convinced her.

At OJ's controversial 1995 murder trial - often dubbed the trial of the century - police claimed they found a blood-soaked sock near the bed in his murdered ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson's home. 

DNA analysis indicated that some of that blood came from OJ – purportedly placing the former football star at the scene of the crime. 

Tanya added that she had tried to put the tragic killing behind her and was more focused on her older sibling's legacy.

Tanya told the publication her older sister 'was the most wonderful person'

Tanya opened up about the gruesome murders - which left her sister nearly decapitated - and said although she had forgiven him, she would never forget (pictured with her book Finding Peace Amid The Chaos: My Escape from Depression and Suicide)

To conclude, she said she hoped her sister would be remembered as more than just a murder victim.

In 2022, Tanya called out comedian Chris Rock over he joke he made about Nicole while hosting a standup show.

The comedian, 59, was on his Ego Death comedy tour in Phoenix when he told the crowd that he turned down hosting the Oscars, just months after Will Smith slapped him on live TV during the 2022 Oscar telecast. 

He told his fans that returning to host would be like, asking Nicole Brown Simpson, 'to go back to the restaurant,' referencing the late wife of O.J. Simpson on the night she was murdered.

Nicole was dining at an Italian restaurant and left her sunglasses there, with waiter Ron Goldman returning the glasses to her before they were both brutally murdered outside of her home. 

Tanya took to her Instagram shortly afterwards to defend her sister.

OJ Simpson at a premiere with then-wife Nicole Brown and their children Sydney and Justin

OJ met Nicole when she was a teenage waitress at the trendy Beverly Hills restaurant, The Daisy. They met when he dined there and they became inseparable (pictured 1980)

OJ Simpson wed his first wife Marguerite Whitley in 1967. They welcomed daughter Arnelle, now 55, and son Jason, 53

'Nothing Is more lovely then to wake up on a Tuesday morning (Not) with TMZ calling you saying Chris Rock made a horrible “joke” about Nicole,' she began, adding the joke was, 'BEYOND distasteful!'

'Nothing funny about his joke towards Jada as she suffers from a physical condition and nothing funny about equating an Oscar host invitation to a double homicide,' she added, referencing his original Oscar night joke about Jada Pinkett Smith being bald due to suffering from alopecia.

'I always thought he was funny, but he crossed the line with this one. In other words, Y’all!!!! Stop using my sister, OJ and Ron as part of your cricking comedy act. There are families behind this tragedy!' she concluded.

OJ Simpson wed his first wife Marguerite Whitley in 1967 when he was just 19 years old. 

The pair welcomed daughter Arnelle, now 55, and son Jason, 53. The couple also shared daughter Aaren who was born in 1977 but died just one month before her second birthday in 1979 after drowning in the family’s pool.

They divorced in 1979 - when Simpson was already seeing Nicole - who was 20 to his 32.

 It was previously reported that Simpson had been battling prostate cancer and undergoing chemotherapy

OJ and Nicole married in 1985 and welcomed daughter Sydney Brooke, now 39 that year and son Justin, 36, in 1988.

In 1989, the former football player pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge against Simpson. The couple divorced in 1992.

The children were just eight and five at the time of their mother's murder and asleep in the home when their mother was stabbed to death on June 12, 1994 alongside Goldman, who was 25.

On April 10 2024, OJ Simpson died aged 76 following a battle with prostate cancer - nearly three decades on from the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. 

It was previously reported that Simpson had been battling prostate cancer and undergoing chemotherapy 

The notorious murder suspect who was found civilly liable for the two killings died surrounded by his family at his home in Las Vegas.