Will Ferrell Reveals His Unusual Connection To O.J. Simpson Case
Will Ferrell brought his signature humor to an unexpectedly serious setting: the O.J. Simpson trial.
The celebrated comedian and actor revealed on The Graham Norton Show how he and his improv troupe were enlisted to perform skits for the jury during the 1995 trial, which captivated the nation as Simpson faced charges of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
Ferrell described the surreal experience of entertaining the sequestered jurors, who had limited exposure to the outside world over the grueling months-long trial.
“I was doing improv at the Groundlings Theatre in LA at the same time the O.J. Simpson trial was going on,” Ferrell shared with Norton. “The jury was sequestered for a long time and couldn’t go anywhere, so someone came up with the idea of performing our sketch show for them in the court to lighten the mood.”
The Anchorman actor confessed that while it was a rare opportunity, the situation wasn’t exactly comedic gold for the performers.
“It was just us and the jurors,” Will Ferrell said. “They seemed mildly entertained, but it was very bizarre.”
Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are promoting their upcoming comedy “You’re Cordially Invited,” set to release on January 30. As the pair reflected on their past brushes with the judicial system, they revealed a lighthearted yet meaningful connection between real-life moments and their on-screen personas.