O.J. Simpson did not “do” one single thing to the Kardashians, but his murder trial and his friendship with the family had a huge impact on them. The main public connection is that Robert Kardashian Sr. was on Simpson’s defense team, and Kim Kardashian has said the case “tore our family apart.”

What happened

  • Simpson was a close friend of Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian Sr. before the criminal case.
  • In 1994, he was charged in the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and Robert Kardashian joined his defense team.
  • The case strained the family because Kris Jenner was close friends with Nicole Brown Simpson, while Robert supported Simpson in court.

Why people talk about it

  • Kim Kardashian has publicly said the trial had a deep, painful effect on the family.
  • There have also been rumors and reports that Simpson claimed to have had an affair with Kris Jenner, but that is not the central verified family connection people usually mean.

Bottom line

If someone asks “what did O.J. Simpson do to the Kardashians,” the most accurate answer is: he was a close family friend whose murder trial divided the family and left a lasting emotional impact, especially because Robert Kardashian defended him.

If you want, I can also give you the short version in one sentence.