EXCLUSIVE: Christopher Darden Doesn't Regret Having OJ Simpson Try on the Gloves in Court
In his first interview since the debut of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, former Simpson prosecutor Christopher Darden opens up exclusively to ET about the series and the infamous glove moment.
In the FX drama, the unforgettable scene in which Simpson tries on gloves found at the crime scene is portrayed as a debacle for Darden, who suggested the courtroom demonstration. Darden tells ET he stands by the decision.
"I think that the glove demonstration is one of the greatest courtroom scenes in American history," Darden says.
Some considered the demonstration as a misstep by the prosecution, because Simpson seemed to struggle with getting the gloves on. However, Darden maintains that the moment should have worked in the prosecution's favor.
"The glove fit," Darden insists. "People want to argue about it, you know? That is OK."
While Darden might be at peace with his decision to have Simpson try on the gloves, he does have a bone to pick with American Crime Story producers for his lack of compensation regarding the series. While the 10-part miniseries is based on Jeffrey Toobin's book, The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson, Darden claims that the show also takes details from his book, In Contempt.
"The producers of that show should have reached out to me," Darden points out. "I would have liked them to compensate me, because I feel that from what I have heard about the series, they have taken things from my life outside of the courtroom. They have also taken things out of my book, In Contempt, and I feel like they should have compensated me for that."
Darden admits that he hasn't watched the series, but he has seen images of Sterling K. Brown, who portrays him on the show. Despite Brown's rave reviews for his performance thus far, Darden jokes that he initially had some bigger names in mind to play him.
"I thought Denzel [Washington] should have played me," Darden says. "Or Idris [Elba] should have played me. Not Will Smith. Good actor... [too] light-skinned."
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX.