‘The People Vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story’ — Marcia Clark Claims ‘It Hurts’ To Relive The Trial Of The Century

The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story is gaining a lot of viewership with its premiere last Tuesday night. One of those viewers, however, is unlike any of the others. Her name is Marcia Clark, and to her the show is not entertainment, it’s reliving a terrible nightmare each and every week.

Marcia was the real-life prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial, and recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the show.

“The whole experience of that trial was a nightmare. It tore me up,” Clarke, now 62 shared.

“I can’t tell you. I watched justice get thwarted from almost day one.”

As most Americans know, Simpson was found not guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman—a verdict that Clark wasn’t looking forward to revisiting.

“It felt pretty awful, not because of anything the series might have done, just reinvoking all of the memories of it,” she said of the miniseries.

“What got me through it was being able to watch Sarah’s performance.”

Clark also revealed that she’s a big fan of the actress that portrays herself, Sarah Paulson, and has met her in person. “I’ve been a fan of hers for years. I just love her,” Clark said. “She was even more wonderful in person.”

She also said this in reference to Paulson, according to E! News, “What a beautiful, nuanced performance … if nothing else, watch for her performance.”

According to Us Weekly, Clark describes watching the show as an out of body experience and admitted that when she first learned of the show had hoped it would get canceled. “I kept hoping and praying, ‘Please, please don’t let this happen. Make something go wrong. Make someone think this isn’t a good idea,’ ” she said.

Despite her feelings about The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story itself, Clark also spoke highly of creator Ryan Murphy and his use of the show to depict social issues. “They’re getting the big stuff so right,” she said, also praising the shows ability to tackle racial tensions and other social issues.

However, she did warn viewers that while the show might be viewed as entertaining it’s important to remember that it is not a documentary, it is a drama. She also hoped that people would remember the two lives that were taken, Nicole and Ron, and that they would be honored in some fashion.

Clark went on to share that she originally became a prosecutor to help victims. “I wanted to protect the victims. There are so many, and I want to do right by them, I want to take care of them,” the current crime author said.

While nobody will experience the show in the same fashion as Clark, viewers learned of the underlying racial climate that surrounded that trial. The People v O.J. Simpson boldly started out with the video of Rodney King’s beating by police and subsequent riots, reports A.V. Club.

That opening scene immediately sets the stage for viewers to draw parallels between the O.J. trial, racial divide, and the current tension between police officers and the black community.

Another parallel in the series eludes to the connection between the O.J. trial and Hollywood. American Crime Story compares the trial to an early reality show, with one scene showing the paparazzi sneaking around a corner to get a shot of O.J., a reference to his celebrity status.

Nevertheless, while we might know what happens throughout the show, the story, the acting, and the underlying issues give the show substance that demands an audience.

The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story airs Tuesdays, 10 p.m. on FX.

Tell us! If you were Marcia Clark, would you relive the O.J. Simpson trial each week by tuning in? Let us know in the comments and check out a preview for the next all-new episode below.

[Image via FX]