If O.J. Simpson ever doubted that some people find him revolting, a recent incident at a packed restaurant may have set him straight. Then, again, this is O.J. we’re talking about, so I could be wrong—-judge for yourself.
According to news reports, Simpson was dining at an upscale Louisville restaurant the night before the Kentucky Derby when the eatery’s owner approached the former NFL Hall of Famer and asked him to leave. Jeff Ruby told reporters he refused to serve Simpson because he is “sickened” by the attention Simpson still attracts.
“I didn’t want to serve him because of my convictions of what he’s done to those families,” Ruby told reporters. “The way he continues to torture the lives of those families … with his behavior, attitude and conduct.”
You’ll recall in 1995 a jury found Simpson not guilty of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, though he was later found liable in a civil trial.
As for what occurred in Kentucky, Ruby says Simpson came in to his restaurant Friday night with about 12 others and was seated at a back table. A few minutes later Ruby says a customer came up to him to brag about seeing Simpson. The restaurant owner says that comment set him off.
“I didn’t want that experience in my restaurant,” Ruby said. “It made me sick to my stomach.”
Ruby told reporters that he went to Simpson’s table and said, “I’m not serving you.”
Then in a move that surprised Ruby, Simpson quietly left the restaurant.
“It was the first time since 1994 he has ever shown any class,” Ruby said referring to the fact that Simpson left without incident.
Simpson may have left without putting up a fight, but apparently he’s got his dukes up now. Yesterday, Simpson’s attorney told reporters that he intends to make Ruby pay for embarrassing his client by going after the restaurant’s liquor license. What’s more, Simpson’s attorney says the reason Ruby gave Simpson the boot was because the former Heisman Trophy winner is black.
“He screwed with the wrong guy, he really did,” Simpson’s attorney told reporters.
Ruby says he’s ready to take on Simpson if need be. He added that he stands by his decision to not serve Simpson and revealed that people in the restaurant started applauding when the “killer” left the eatery. Ruby also told reporters that in the days following the incident he has received about 100 positive e-mails.
Do you think the restaurant owner did the right thing?
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