O.J. Simpson's highly anticipated parole hearing began Thursday afternoon, with the former football star appearing before four commissioners from Nevada's Board of Parole Commissioners to ask for early release from prison. For the 70-year-old Hall of Famer, who has served nine years of a nine-to-33-year sentence for an armed robbery and kidnapping attempt in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2007, his fate rests in the hand of these commissioners. Yet, and instead of acting gracious, O.J. Simpson appears to be smirking and shaking his head at his parole hearing — and the Internet is freaking out.
Simpson was convicted of armed robbery in 2008, after famously being acquitted for the murder his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman. If the hearing goes in Simpson's favor, one of America's most notorious prisoners will walk free as early as October.
At the beginning of the hearing, the board notified Simpson that, and despite his notoriety, he would be receiving the same hearing as other inmates. He responded with a laugh and said, "OK. Sure."
Liz Claman, the anchor of the Fox Business Network show, was one of the first to acknowledge the Simpson smirk and head shake.
This Twitter user viewed the smirk as an example of Simpson's lack of humility in front of the board.
In this photo, his face appears more smiley than smirky.
What do you think — smile or smirk?
Regardless of his facial expression, I think everyone can agree on one thing: Simpson was definitely not smiling or smirking when a parole board member thought he recently turned 90.