ASHLEE MAKES A MONKEY OF JESS

IT wouldn’t be totally bananas to suggest that Jessica Simpson’s career has hit a low patch.
But even we’re swinging from the trees in shock at news coming from the US.

That’s because we hear the buxom sometime contender is being overlooked as co-host of her 22-year-old sister Ashlee’s new show in favour of a monkey.


Yes, an actual monkey.


Critics cruelly suggested that a simian star could have done better than Jess, 27, in her last

major role as a wooden Daisy Duke in the remake of TheDukes of Hazzard.


And now they’ll have the chance to be proved right as rhesus macaque Kate – a chimp chum of Ashlee’s rocker boyfriend Pete Wentz, 28 – steals her limelight...



Our Whipsnade-wandering source told us: “Ashlee is working on a new chat show for a top US network under the working title The Ashlee Simpson Show.



"She has a strong following among the new rock kids, especially as she and Pete are the hottest couple right now – that’s the demographic they’re after.



“Ashlee rather loyally wanted Jessica to be her co-host. But bosses weren’t keen as Jessica is seen as a bit naff.



“She’s older and linked to a different world of celebrity.”



So step forward Kate, the socalled “director” of the Fall Out Boy video Thnks Fr Th Mmrs and guest of honour at Thursday’s Kerrang! Awards.



“The show’s producers want a quirky show,” our monkey genius continued.



“They thought it would be really funny to have the monkeyco-host the show.



“She’s going to be the rock monkey and will ‘direct’ other bands coming on the show.



“Sadly, this format change meant there was no place for Jessica. The monkey is the co-host they want. It must be a blow for her.”



Too right. But when we asked a friend of Jessica’s, we were told she wished her sister well

but would be focusing on more mature projects.



Seems her monkey business days are well behind her...

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