Ashlee Simpson Fired from Melrose Place

Ashlee Simpson didn’t know it, but producers planned on cutting her from Melrose Place the whole time. Executive producer Todd Slavkin tells EW:

"The original plan going into the development of the show. We felt that once the murder mystery [involving their characters] was resolved, the tone of the show was going to shift, and [Simpson’s] character would move on."

FIRED!

Ashlee then released a statement about how great it was to be given an acting job, despite the fact she can’t act:

“Having the chance to play Violet on Melrose Place has been a thrill. Although I always knew her story would come to a final, insanely unpredictable end, playing a creepy, unstable character was something I always wanted to do, so I jumped at the chance. Thanks to the CW and the entire cast and crew of Melrose Place for allowing me this opportunity.”

Slavkin said:

Simpson took the news “like a professional, because she knew ahead of time that leaving was a possibility, it wasn’t a complete shock.”

A "possibility" means they said Ashlee could stay if she worked out, but Slavkin fired her when she didn’t. We’re not shocked.

Oh well, now Ashlee can go back to giving birth to that soccer team Pete Wentz wants to have.