Meet Zoey Tur: the pioneering trans helicopter pilot who filmed OJ Simpson’s infamous car chase
Sign up for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
It was a hot summer day in Los Angeles, June 17, 1994, when the city was gripped by the news that former NFL player OJ Simpson was on the run. The Los Angeles County District Attorney had just announced that Simpson had not surrendered to the police to be charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The entire city was on edge, wondering where Simpson could be hiding.
But one person knew exactly where he was – Zoey Tur, a transgender broadcaster and pilot, who was flying in a helicopter overhead, filming it all. Tur, along with her crew, decided to take to the skies to find Simpson. Little did they know, they were about to capture one of the most iconic moments in television history.
As Tur flew for over five hours, they eventually spotted Simpson driving in a white Bronco, being chased by multiple police units. Tur described the surreal moment when they first spotted him on the freeway, with police cars trailing behind: “We were on the air live ahead of anyone else for about 22 minutes,” she recalled. The entire nation was glued to their screens, watching the dramatic chase unfold.
After several hours, Simpson finally drove to his home in Brentwood, where police negotiated with him to get out of the car. Tur described it as one of the strangest things she had ever witnessed. The entire world watched as Simpson finally surrendered to the authorities, bringing an end to the dramatic car chase.
This moment would go down in history as one of the most memorable events in television coverage. Tur’s company, Los Angeles News Service, was the first to use a helicopter to cover breaking news, revolutionizing how news was delivered to the public. The footage captured by Tur that day would be replayed countless times, cementing her place in broadcasting history.
But Tur’s career was not without its challenges. In 2013, she came out publicly as transgender and underwent hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery in 2014. She faced criticism and backlash from some, including her own daughter Katy, who initially struggled to come to terms with her father’s transition.
Despite the challenges, Tur continued to break barriers in the media industry. She reported on major events such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots and the hijacking of Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771. Her fearless reporting and commitment to telling important stories earned her respect and recognition in the industry.
Today, Tur is the news director of NewsMediaFilms (NMF), a media production company she founded in 2018. Along with her friend Beth Youngblood, Tur is dedicated to finding and showcasing stories worth telling. She continues to cover major news events, including the August Complex fires in California in 2020.
As the world remembers OJ Simpson’s life and legacy following his passing, Zoey Tur’s role in capturing that fateful car chase will forever be etched in history. Her pioneering spirit and fearless dedication to journalism have paved the way for future generations of broadcasters and reporters. And as she continues to tell important stories through NMF, her impact on the media industry will only grow stronger.
Follow us on: Facebook for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
transgender
