Johnnie Cochran Calls the Damning Fuhrman Tapes "Manna From Heaven"
FICTION: Toobin reported that, while Cochran was "moved the most deeply" by the twist of fate that brought them the tapes, it was fellow defense attorney Gerry Uelman who uttered the words, "This is manna from heaven."
Judge Ito Warns Darden to "Take 3 Deep Breaths"
FACT: The co-prosecutor did come dangerously close to being held in contempt after accusing Ito of letting the defense get away with filling the jury's minds with hearsay. However, the timing of this incident, albeit taken nearly verbatim from the court transcript, did not coincide with the Fuhrman tapes. Instead, this showdown between Darden and Ito, who by all accounts only wanted an apology from counsel, happened in February 1995 during the defense's cross-examination of Detective Tom Lange (the one who lived in Simi Valley). Ito would again threaten Darden and Cochran with contempt during the heated exchange that occurred after neighbor Robert Heidstra testified to hearing what sounded like a black voice coming from Nicole's place on the night of the murder—but the famous "three deep breaths" moment was earlier.
Mark Fuhrman Takes the 5th
FACT: You could almost hear the whomp-whomp in the courtroom. This demoralizing moment wasn't witnessed by the jury, but it robbed all sides the chance to question the detective further about the tapes. Fuhrman also pleaded the 5th when Cochran asked, "Did you plant or manufacture any evidence in this case?"
Marcia Clark Apologizes to Chris Darden for Fuhrman and He Apologizes About the Gloves
FICTION: Clark did tell Dateline that Darden at some point apologized for going against her wishes about having O.J. try on the gloves, but she also told Vulture that the show's back and forth between her and Darden regarding Fuhrman was "just absurd." As in, Darden didn't repeatedly warn her about putting Fuhrman on the stand, and it was never a question of if, but how. Hence the doubt that she ever felt the need to apologize to Darden.
"If It Doesn't Fit, You Must Acquit"
FACT, but squeezed for effect. The ACS speech in which Johnnie Cochran first mentions the most memorable phrase from the entire trial is actually far more heated and dramatic—he says it three times in a row—than when Cochran in real life first invoked what became the takeaway of his closing argument. (Jeffrey Toobin also attributed the origination of the catchy line to defense attorney Gerald Uelman.)
The Jury Deliberates for Barely Two Hours
FACT: The first private ballot yields 10-2 in favor of acquittal, and soon it becomes 12-0 after their only request is to have the seemingly damning testimony of limo driver Alan Park read back to them. Anise Aschenback, a white juror who initially voted to convict, later told Jeffrey Toobin that she was deeply disturbed by evidence of Mark Fuhrman's racism.
O.J. Is Tipped Off About the Jury's Decision
FACT: O.J. was said to be in good spirits when visiting with Robert Kardashian, F. Lee Bailey and manager Skip Taft before heading to court because the deputies guarding him had heard from the deputies guarding the jury which way the wind was blowing.
O.J. Simpson Is Found Not Guilty of Murder
FACT: And the show effectively brought the mind-blowing moment back from the annals of history.
Robert Kardashian Vomits Upon Hearing the Verdict
FICTION: But the nauseating moment neatly sums up the inner turmoil O.J.'s longtime friend suffered as the evidence mounted against him but it simultaneously became apparent that the prosecution was losing the case.