Kris Jenner Opens Up About The O.J. Simpson Trial On 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'

"We felt like we really failed [Nicole] as a friend."

Kris Jenner has never been shy about her connection to the "trial of the century." With the success of "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," the reality star might actually be one of people most qualified to speak about that period in time.

Simpson was charged and subsequently acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. As a close friend of both, the trial took a toll on Jenner's life and caused rift in her family when Jenner's ex-husband Robert Kardashian joined Simpson's defense team.

In an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," airing Tuesday, the 60-year-old once again opened up about living through the trial more than 20 years ago.

"Me and some of her other close friends all were really surprised and shocked by that. We felt like we really failed her as a friend," Jenner told host Ellen DeGeneres, who remarked that she couldn't believe Nicole didn't reach out to her friends for help.

"You know, you go through this and you discover things about somebody and it was horrible. Although she and I were supposed to have lunch the next day after she was murdered. She said she wanted to show me some things and talk about what was in her safe," Jenner explained. "And so now unfortunately it all makes sense that that’s probably what she wanted to reveal to me that next day. Which broke my heart because I will always feel horrible that I didn’t pay enough attention."

Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J. Simpson, Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian.
Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J. Simpson, Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian.
EllenTube

Despite a long friendship with Simpson, Jenner was certain of his guilt. She was still hopeful they would "see justice" served the first time she opened up about the trial in an interview a week before the jury would read its verdict on Oct. 3, 1995

Looking back, Jenner describes it as a "painful" experience. "Every single day it was something different and very difficult because my ex-husband was on one side I was kind of on the other," she explained. "The kids were in the middle. It was trying to explain to the children and O.J. had called. Everybody lost so much that night."

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