CNN contributor says black Americans identified with OJ during murder trial because it was 'white people who had been killed'

CNN contributor Ashley Allison suggested on Thursday that black Americans identified with OJ Simpson during his murder trial because "there were two white people who had been killed."

Allison made the remarks during the network's coverage of Simpson's death, which sparked backlash. She was commenting on the significance of OJ Simpson's trial in the 90s for the black community, as well as the racial tensions that flared during and after it.

Allison said that Simpson's case brought forward "just how black Americans feel about policing."

"He wasn't a social justice leader, but he represented something for the black community in that moment, in that trial, particularly because there were two white people who had been killed. And the history around how black people have been persecuted during slavery," said Allison.

The CNN contributor contended, "Until this country is ready to actually have an honest conversation about the racial dynamic from our origin story until today, we will always have moments like OJ Simpson that manifests and our country will always be divided if we don't actually deal with the issue of race."

Allison's remarks were lambasted on X with individuals claiming that her comments were "racist."

"Imagine if I went on Fox News and said this about black people. I'd be canceled so fast," said one person.

"Absolutely unhinged racialism," commented another.

"If this is how they view justice, they should never be allowed on any jury. They shouldn’t be judges either," an X user added.

O.J. Simpson, a disgraced former NFL football star who was acquitted of murder in 1995 over the death of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson Brown, and her friend Ron Goldman, died of cancer on Thursday at the age of 76.