O.J. Simpson's Will Executor 'Backtracks' on Remarks that Goldman Family Will Get 'Zero': 'That Was Pretty Harsh' (Exclusive)

O.J. Simpson’s final will was filed in Clark County, Nevada, on April 12, two days after his death at 76

O.J. Simpson’s attorney is walking back remarks he made last week about wanting to prevent Ron Goldman's family from getting money from Simpson's estate.

Malcolm LaVergne, who is the executor of Simpson's will, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing,”

“Them specifically," added LaVergne, who according to the outlet has represented Simpson since 2009. "And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing.”

But on Sunday, April 14, LaVergne told PEOPLE, "I'm kind of backtracking from those remarks. They were pretty harsh."

In his comments to the Review-Journal, LaVergne referenced the events surrounding the publication of Simpson's book If I Did It, in which the Goldman family secured the rights and later issued a revised edition featuring additional commentary.

But he told PEOPLE that he wishes he hadn't come across in such a strident manner, saying he had been accustomed to acting as Simpson's lawyer as opposed to the executor of his estate, which he said requires "a different tact."

“I've backtracked from that since, because you've got to understand, there's a learning curve to everything,” he tells PEOPLE. “And I was an advocate for Mr. Simpson so long, and he was able to live a really great last seven years of his life out because I was his attorney and advocate for all that time, but now my attorney hat is off, and my executor hat is on.”

LaVergne says he plans to be “as transparent as possible" with the Goldman family.

Related: O.J. Simpson Dead at 76 From Cancer, Family Announces

LaVergne says claimants like the IRS will have to be paid before Simpson’s beneficiaries. “There's a pecking order,” he says.

Simpson’s final will was filed in Clark County, Nevada, on April 12, two days after his death at 76.

The will was signed by the former football player on Jan. 24, per the Eighth Judicial Court Portal's website.

Simpson requested his property be placed into The Orenthal Simpson Revocable Living Trust, and also signed that his last wishes for his remains would be attached to the will itself.

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An attorney for Goldman's father said Simpson — who was famously acquitted of murdering Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson — owed the family more than $100 million from a 1997 wrongful death lawsuit.

"He died without penance,” Goldman family attorney David Cook said of Simpson. “He did not want to give a dime, a nickel to Fred [Goldman], never, anything, never.”

Simpson’s death was announced by his family in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, on April 11.

“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 post reads.

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