Jessica Simpson Fires Publicist

By: Shannon Gossage

It was reported in late August by People magazine that Jessica Simpson and singer John Mayer were an item. Just a few days later Simpson appeared on the cover of US Weekly with a huge headline that read "Dumped!" Now there are conflicting stories about what actually happened between Simpson and Mayer if anything. Simpson’s dad, Joe, fired Shuter after the way he handled the alleged love story behind Simpson and Mayer. Simpson even appeared on The View this week and said, "I am actually not dating John Mayer."

A source close to the situation blames Shuter and said the story was "overblown" and was "100 percent Shuter. He broke all the rules of the game. He’s a pathological liar. I wonder how much Jessica even knew what he was up to." Shuter has reportedly yet to respond to the allegations. Another source claims that Daddy Simpson and an exec at Epic Records concocted the love story to generate publicity for the release of Simpson’s latest album A Public Affair. Of course Epic released a statement calling the rumors "ludicrous" and Daddy Simpson has denied any wrongdoing.

A source close to Mayer claims that Simpson and Mayer had a brief fling but "now he will stay away from her…He thinks it’s desperate. An attempt for her to stay in the spotlight." A friend of Mayer’s said, "It’s very clear to John who was pushing this story." As for Simpson, a friend says that she is "really upset that something she hoped would work out has fizzled." Said the source, Simpson "met a guy who was scared away by all the attention." Wouldn’t you be?