Wednesday, 28 January 2009

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Ashlee Simpson: Stop talking about Jessica's weight

Singer hits back at criticism

Ashlee Simpson has a close bond with her elder sister Jessica

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz says people should leave her older sister Jessica alone.

"I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister's weight," Ashlee, 24, writes on her blog after photos appeared of Jessica, 28, at the Radio 99.9 Kiss Country's annual Chili Cookoff on Sunday in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Under the headline, "Since when did a woman's weight become newsworthy," Ashlee says: "A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman's weight or figure."

She adds: "All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you're a celebrity, there shouldn't be a different standard."

The singer/actress says he wonders if people would make the same remarks to a wife, daughter, mother, grandmother or friend.

"I seriously doubt it," she says. "How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure? Now can we focus on the things that really matter."

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Mike Fleeman