American Sports Story: Producers Defend Depiction of Aaron Hernandez's Acquitted Murders
American Sports Story: Why They Showed the Acquitted Murders
The new American Sports Story series on FX explores the complex life of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL star convicted of murder who later took his own life. It is a complicated figure; an incredibly talented and celebrated athlete, whose history includes a complex personal life that later would affect many areas in his life.
The series goes deeply; delving into that controversial 2012 double homicide case involving Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. This particular storyline is exceptionally compelling because Hernandez was acquitted but the series portrays his involvement; that act of portraying this even despite this court decision. This immediately created much speculation, questioning whether such portrayal was ethical or necessary to complete that particular storytelling.
This raises important questions! Why portray this acquitted case? In a recent interview with Variety, producers Brad Simpson and Stuart Zicherman explained their decision. They firmly believed Hernandez was guilty, even though he wasn’t proven guilty under the legal parameters used at the time. The team did serious research including reports from the Boston Globe – confirming their belief in his guilt.
Producers' Perspective: Convinced of Hernandez's Guilt
Simpson and Zicherman had strong viewpoints: they considered their belief about the actual events not an ethical issue; this is because their research largely convinced them of Hernandez’s guilt. Simpson points out compelling details: "He did do those murders. What’s interesting to us is the ways that he was found not guilty of those murders. It’s pretty clear that Aaron shot Sherrod in the face. There’s so much witness testimony placing Aaron around the scene of those murders. All of the evidence led to that. I think the show is interested in showing how he got off and setting up that there was even a chance he might even have the first conviction overturned."
He then concludes by directly emphasizing this viewpoint: "But it seemed pretty clear to us and the reporters at the Boston Globe, that Aaron was, if not guilty by the court of those murders, he did them. We didn’t really grapple, ethically, with having them commit those murders because we’re pretty convinced he did them."
Zicherman adds additional critical commentary. He acknowledges they faced very challenging considerations regarding all of these potentially complex issues and dilemmas which involved showing someone as an apparent murderer. The focus isn’t to condone but rather to show Hernandez’s complicity. This does help them emphasize another crucial aspect to their creative work; it's about showing how this all happens; these difficult moments; those flawed societal mechanisms and institutions—that could have potentially affected and helped make him who he later became.
Exploring the Context: Hernandez's Life and the 2012 Murders
The 2012 murders form a key part in American Sports Story’s storyline. It explores how Hernandez’s childhood traumas (family issues, violence), plus the intense hyper-masculine world of NFL football, and those unresolved emotional struggles could impact his descent into violence. His sexuality—an important element rarely examined–is also critically part of that larger story; something very carefully addressed throughout episode 6, titled “Herald Street.” That particular episode shows the immense internal emotional struggles and internal conflict he faced, including the trauma of exposure.
That crucial night is depicted dramatically! A spilled drink ignites his anger, triggering his extreme violent actions. The show does not paint Hernandez as merely an angry man seeking vengeance for what were imagined and unfounded insults. Rather, those are deeply ingrained reactions to feelings of pressure, suspicion and being completely controlled by others around him.
The Producers' Choice: A Nuanced Portrayal
American Sports Story takes that kind of careful approach, showing a complex person; not merely portraying him as a villain, nor simply reducing Hernandez to someone purely evil, rather than understanding those various pressures around his emotional development, to help explain those kinds of decisions made; the failures inherent within multiple different structures including family, social groups, school, and even his professional sports team! And these combined traumas add the key layer to those disastrous events. This series adopts this approach to explore several critically similar points; those same thematic connections that other similar series show.
This careful balance and nuanced view into Hernandez’s story is what truly sets American Sports Story apart from typical true-crime shows— emphasizing critical nuances about violence, its potential origins, along with how multiple complex factors create truly disastrous results!
Conclusion: A Story that Challenges and Provokes
American Sports Story’s portrayal of the 2012 murders isn't simple. It is controversial because of the acquittal! It sparks debate on ethics. But the creative decision displays intent to thoroughly investigate the causes and implications behind violence – exploring Hernandez’s entire life to highlight all aspects, showing that complexities existed within those who are perceived simply as purely malicious figures.
The series provokes and makes many viewers question these systems surrounding such behavior; those larger forces which had some implication in creating and molding the tragic fate of Hernandez’s very unfortunate ending; highlighting many of the failures found within American society, which can inadvertently cause or contribute to violent outcomes, which makes it incredibly impactful to many who understand the very real effects.
