Denise Brown Has Tried Moving On Post-O.J. Trial

The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story is one compelling legal drama. But, that's all that it is: A 10-episode series that focuses mostly on the courtroom saga of the O.J. Simpson case. In that respect, it is fascinating. At the time, it was the trial of century. But, while it's super interesting to go over the trial details after two decades of detachment, the show has reminded me that there was so much to the story outside of the trial that isn't being covered in the series. I don't think American Crime Story should indulge these tangents, because it has enough to cover already in 10 episodes, and the narrow focus is part of what makes the show great. But, I am intensely curious about them, especially about the personal lives of some of the people involved in the case who weren't the lawyers. For example, what is Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, doing today?

Like everyone tangentially involved in the O.J. case, the tragic murder of her sister and the ensuing trial was a turning point in the life of Denise Brown. Although O.J. was later acquitted of Nicole's murder in 1995, according to The New York Times, he was found responsible in the resulting 1997 civil suit and ordered to pay "$25 million in punitive damages to the families."

In the years since, Denise been an activist and advocate for victims of domestic violence.

After Nicole's murder, Denise Brown help found The Nicole Brown Foundation, where she still serves as president. "The Nicole Brown Foundation is a non-profit national advocacy organization against domestic violence," its website states. "Our primary purpose is to bring awareness, education and inspiration to our communities."

Last year, Denise Brown started a Kickstarter campaign to make a documentary about the life of her sister — without mentioning O.J.'s name. "This is to tell our side of the story," Brown told HNGN. "We are not talking about him or that. We are honoring Nicole ... I am so tired of seeing O.J. this, O.J. that ... I want the focus to be on my sister — not him."

However, according to the HNGN article, Brown claimed marketers insisted that the only way to sell the documentary was to use O.J.'s name, so Brown pulled out. "He doesn't exist in my life anymore," she told the website.

Brown seems to be living up to her word; it doesn't look like she's given any interviews about The People v. O.J. Simpson, and she didn't respond to Bustle's request for comment on what she thought of the series. And, according to her other sister, Tanya, they've purged themselves of all the O.J. from their lives. Recently, People reported that the two sisters shredded 15 bags of documents from the trial. "We got rid of everything," Tanya told the magazine. "Even receipts. We didn't want to hold onto 21 years of bad memories. Who wants to remember the trial? We held onto that for 21 years. We released it. New chapter. New journey. We said, 'We are getting rid of it all,' and it's gone."

I can't begin to imagine what the Brown sisters endured following Nicole's death, but it's uplifting to see Denise doing good in her sister's name and working to move forward from the terrible tragedy. If that's not a sign of her immeasurable strength, nothing is.