‘American Sports Story’ Producers on Showing Aaron Hernandez Commit Double Murders He Was Acquitted of: ‘He Did Do Those Murders’

As a seasoned movie buff with a penchant for true crime dramas and a knack for separating fact from fiction, I found the latest episode of “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” both captivating and thought-provoking. The sixth episode makes a bold claim about the 2012 night out incident, which, while not proven in court, paints a chilling picture of the NFL superstar’s actions.

Heads up, fellow movie enthusiasts! I’m about to delve into some plot points from the October 15th episode of “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” on FX, currently available for streaming on Hulu. Proceed with caution if you don’t want any spoilers!

While “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” is a dramatized account of NFL star Aaron Hernandez’s rise and fall, who tragically took his own life in 2017 while incarcerated for life, the sixth episode raises a significant claim regarding a particular night out in 2012, suggesting events that might not have occurred as depicted.

In the given episode, the characters Josh Rivera portraying Hernandez and Roland Buck III as Alexander “Sherrod” Bradley exit a Miami nightclub. Hernandez is furious due to two men mocking him for accidentally spilling a drink on him inside the club. At a red light, Hernandez retaliates by brandishing a firearm and firing at both men, then swiftly driving away. As revealed in the opening episode of the series, Hernandez later shoots Bradley in the face.

In actuality, Hernandez was found not guilty for the 2012 murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, as well as the shooting of Alexander Bradley. Nevertheless, after conducting their investigation and taking into account the reporting done by the Boston Globe, the makers of “American Sports Story” decided it was appropriate to portray him carrying out these crimes in their production.

Brad Simpson states, “He indeed committed those murder acts,” he tells EbMaster. “What intrigues us is the circumstances under which he was declared not guilty of those murders. It’s quite obvious that Aaron fired at Sherrod, and there’s an abundance of eyewitness accounts linking Aaron to the crime scene. All the evidence pointed towards this conclusion. I believe the show aims to explore how he managed to avoid conviction and hint at the possibility of even overturning the initial verdict.

He goes on to say, “However, it appeared undeniably so to us and the journalists at the Boston Globe, that Aaron may not have been legally convicted for those murders, but he was indeed responsible for them.

In discussing the portrayal of the show, Simpson admitted there were many emotional challenges; however, dealing ethically with the characters committing murders was not one of those issues. He firmly believes that the character did indeed commit the murders.

According to showrunner and executive producer Stuart Zicherman, the writers were constantly discussing various aspects of the storyline. In the end, they would make choices based on their interpretations of what had likely occurred.

Zicherman points out that the series delves into the multiple aspects of Hernandez and the crimes he has been convicted of. He explains, “We adopt a firm stance, treating him as a cold-blooded killer because he did take lives. However, we, as a production, do not condone his actions. It’s essential to remember that he was not innately a murderer. What intrigues me about this narrative is the examination of the institutions and individuals who, in one way or another, may have contributed to his downfall, potentially preventing him from becoming a killer.

New episodes of “American Sports Story” air on FX on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.

2024-10-17 01:16

‘American Sports Story’ Producers on Showing Aaron Hernandez Commit Double Murders He Was Acquitted of: ‘He Did Do Those Murders’

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