Ashlee Simpson is Cheerfully Unemployed

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.”