Well the news is in. Last night Beaufort Books revealed itself as the publisher who has agreed to print O.J. Simpson’s controversial If I Did It. In hopes of avoiding a fate similar to the ReganBooks catastrophe of last year, the small, NY-based company is trying to spin this book as hard (or rather, as nicely) as they can.

In Beaufort’s highly anticipated press release, the publisher maintains that what was previously perceived as a “brazen attempt for Simpson to capitalize on an unspeakable crime for financial gain” will now been seen for what it truly is: a confession. (Note that he never directly confesses to either Nicole Brown or Ron Goldman’s murders in the book.)

My favorite line is when Beaufort describes the Goldman family’s acquisition of the rights to the manuscript this year as “a great ironic turn in this tale of murder and injustice.” Great because we are dredging up the details of a horrific, 14-year-old murder? Or ironic because now the victim’s family will profit from it, and we aren’t sure who to blame anymore?

I at least expected something like this from Simpson. But don’t worry, Nicole Brown’s sister Denise is making sure to publicly condemn the Goldmans’ decision to go through with publication. She is asking everyone to boycott If I Did It once it is released. This is, of course, after she failed to secure some of the profits from the novel for herself.

I really don’t know who to believe anymore. All I know is that this book is getting published, and knowing that “the Goldmans, the publisher, and Sharlene Martin will all contribute portions of sales proceeds to the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice” is somehow supposed to make us sleep easier at night.