A former Biden campaign aide who is now a CNN political commentator faced a ton of controversy over her remarks on the death of former NFL running back O.J. Simpson and what he “represented” to blacks.

Following news on Thursday of Simpson’s death, Ashley Allison, who was the national coalitions director for the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign and served as a senior policy adviser in the Obama White House, said, “He wasn’t a social justice leader, but he represented something for the Black community in that moment in that trial, particularly because there were two White people killed.”

“And the history around how Black people have been persecuted during slavery. There were just so many layers,” she said further, adding, “I guess I would just close with this. There was racial tension then, there is racial tension now. It might not be the backdrop of the Trump campaign, but until this country is ready to actually have an honest conversation about the racial dynamics from our origin story until today, we will always have moments like O.J. Simpson that manifest. And our country will always be divided if we don’t actually deal with the issue of race.”

Allison’s remarks earned her criticism on social media, particularly X, with Comedian Tim Young writing, “Insane! CNN commentator praises OJ Simpson… saying he “represented something” to the black community because he murdered white people… Flip the races and put this segment on Fox News, and there would be rioting.”

Daily Caller columnist Mary Rooke called Allison’s comments and fellow panelists’ decision to let it fly “unbelievable.”

“Not a single @CNN panelist pushes back on @ashleyrallison here when she admits it was ok that OJ murdered his wife and her friend because they were white,” Rooke tweeted.

Simpson’s family announced on social media that he died on Wednesday.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace,” the family wrote on his X account.

Simpson, who played with the NFL for 11 seasons after enjoying a successful collegiate football career, is seen as one of the greatest running backs of all time. However, what truly made his name transcend generations is the double murder trial of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

After he led police officers on a 60-mile chase that garnered international attention and scored more views than any SuperBowl in the 1990s, his courtroom trials arguably became the most famous trial of all time.

He would later be found not guilty in the deaths, a verdict that has seen strongly mixed reactions till date, as many believe that he was guilty and only walked because he was a black celebrity at a time of extreme racial tensions.

Hence, Allison’s praise of Simpson striked many as odd, especially as he was also alleged to have been a chronic abuser of Brown who stalked her even after they separated.

A social media user brought up this angle while addressing Allison’s comments. “OJ Simpson was a wife beater, if he represented anything it was that he was a proponent for spousal abuse,” the user wrote.