Ashlee Simpson showed a cheerful disposition as she was spotted leaving a house in Studio City.

Simpson just learned the news that she’s been let go from the CW’s “Melrose Place” series.

A source says: “Ashlee didn’t see it coming, and now she’s crushed. She invested her heart and soul into the job. She feels like the rug has been pulled out from under her.”

Meanwhile, producers of the show have released statements saying that Miss Simpson knew her character would have a short-term role on the series.

In even juicier gossip, reports are saying that Heather Locklear, who famously starred as icy PR vixen Amanda Woodward on the original Melrose Place in the 1990s, got into the mother of all catfights with Ashlee on the set as a rivalry ensued over who would be the show’s official Queen Bee.

While producers insist Ashlee’s departure is storyline-dictated, production insiders say the 25-year-old wife and mother was railroaded by an envious Heather, who was gunning for Ashlee from the moment she arrived on set for an “Amanda Returns” guest arc airing next month.

“Heather was jealous of Ashlee immediately,” says an insider. “She knew Ashlee was one of the bigger names on set, and she wanted her gone so she could make it her show. Heather is very politcial and calculating…”

On Oct. 22, The CW abruptly announced that Ashlee along with co-star Colin Egglesfield had been booted from the show. Producers are hoping Heather’s familiar face will be a show-saving draw for the critically-panned and ratings-challenged Melrose 2.0.

Informants say that’s precisely why bosses had no problem ditching Ashlee — who will exit her role as Violet Foster — after 48-year-old Heather complained Ashlee been poking fun of her age to other members of the cast and crew.

Now that her sister Ashlee Simpson-Wentz has been canned on Melrose Place, Jessica Simpson says she isn’t a fan of the CW soap.

The singer, 29, used to promote her sister’s former show regularly on her Twitter (”Everyone watch my sis on melrose place tonight,” she wrote Oct. 20).

But on Sunday, she changed her tune drastically. Jessica wrote: “CW catching up on MP.who writes this crap? i have had bad scripts to work with,but this? thank God my sister is amazing and got you some press.”

Actually, insiders are saying that the producers don’t think Ashlee is a very good actress!

Ashlee, a veteran of TV’s 7th Heaven, was canned because producers thought she couldn’t act.

“They hired her because they needed a good name to help create buzz,” a set insider says. “But she was embarrassingly bad. Producers cut her down as much as possible.”

Seconds another source: “She’s the worst actress, but nobody will tell her.”

So what’s next for Ashlee?

Possibly more acting.

The mom of 11-month-old Bronx (dad is rocker Pete Wentz, 30) doesn’t want to return to her songstress roots. “She’s reading scripts. Acting is her focus now,” a source says. “If she had an album, she’d have to tour and be away from Bronx. She wants consistency.”

Ashlee Simpson was spotted carrying adorable baby son Bronx Mowgli Wentz, 5-month-old in New York City earlier today.

So cute!

With the success of the new 90210, someone thought why not being back Melrose Place? Now, a second Melrose Place is in the works.

Even so, Heather Locklear has already said that she won’t be a part of the new Melrose. Locklear turned down the show because she’s not convinced writers can realistically bring her old character Amanda Woodward back. “There wasn’t a way to bring her back that made sense.”

Ashlee Simpson, however, has landed a role on the show. She will be playing a small town girl who moves to LA named Violet.

Lisa Rinna was spotted out (with Ross Matthews) wearing a cardboard sign looking like she desperately wanted her Taylor McBride role back. However, Rinna says she wasn’t really trying to get back on Melrose Place, but was doing a skit for a new Web Show.

Rinna says, “A dear friend asked me if I would do this skit. I said why not? Because, you know me, I’ll do anything.”

Yes Lisa, we can tell by looking at your face that you like to call attention to yourself.

Ashlee Simpsonstepped out on the town yesterday with a bolder, brighter red ‘do—just a few days after dyeing her locks blonde for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Maybe Ashlee was bored being blonde. It must not always be true that blondes have more fun.

Ashlee better make up her mind about color before her hair falls out!

 

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz unveiled their son Bronx Mowgli Wentz in a holiday card on their website FriendsorEnemies.com.

Cute!

As we said recently, it seems like Ashlee Simpson has been pregnant forever! She is ready to pop, but the baby hasn’t come yet.

“They’re going to have to. It’s already developing really quick,” big sis Jessica Simpson said Monday at a taping of the The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Ashlee – described by husband Pete Wentz more than two weeks ago as due at any moment – has already tried other ways to begin labor.
“Different foot massages and stuff,” Jessica told DeGeneres in the show airing Wednesday. “I don’t know. I think she’s really just jumping around trying everything right now.”

Doesn’t it seem like Ashlee Simpson has been pregnant for a really long time?

Ashlee stepped out in LA last night for dinner with friends. She layered up with a scarf but there was no hiding her huge baby bump.

Her husband, Pete Wentz, says that Ashlee could give birth at any second.

“She is very pregnant,” he said Thursday. “I am on call permanently right now. She’s at the very end, and it could happen at any point.”

“I think she wants to just be not pregnant anymore,” said Wentz. “It’s a struggle to go up and down the stairs. Going out in public is insane.”

As for the name of the little Simpson-Wentz-to-be, the jury is still out. “I want to meet (the baby) first,” says Wentz. “My friend said it – you’ve gotta have a baby with a name that could be a rock star or a senator, so he’ll get work either way.”

Pregnant Ashlee Simpson was out and about yesterday.  She ate at The Ivy, a restaurant where celebrities go when they want to be photographed.  Or maybe Ashlee was just craving the food there.  If not the food, then definitely the attention that a celeb gets when they go there!

Here is another pic.

After much speculation about her pregnancy and an eventual confirmation, Ashlee Simpson shows her baby bump and growing curves (just look at that plunging neckline!).

Simpson recently canceled her summer tour in light of her pregnancy.

 

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson Wentz have finally confirmed Ashlee’s pregnancy.

In a statement, the couple says: 

“While many have speculated about this, we wanted to wait until after the first trimester to officially confirm that we are expecting our first child. This is truly the most joyous time in our lives and we are excited to share the happy news and start our family.”

- Pete and Ashlee Wentz

Congrats to the happy couple.