EXCLUSIVE: Jessica's Publicist Fired

TMZ has learned Rob Shuter, Jessica Simpson's longtime publicist, has been fired.

According to one well-placed source, Rob was let go because of last week's weekly magazine debacle involving Jessica's purported romance with rocker John Mayer. Both People and Us Weekly magazines ran cover stories suggesting the two were dating, and People even quoted Jessica saying "I'm in love!" Reports began to surface this week that Mayer may have been irked about the public proclamation and reportedly felt used for publicity. This week, Jessica emphatically announced on "The View" "I am actually not dating John Mayer."

Another source suggests the Simpson camp has been unhappy with Shuter's performance for some time and that the Mayer incident "was the last straw" in a series of events leading up to the firing.

Calls to Shuter were not immediately returned. The person who answered the phone at JT Entertainment, father Joe Simpson's management company, had no comment.

Ironically on John Mayer's blog, he posted a simple message: "Really enjoying this song" above a poster for Public Enemy's hit "Don't Believe the Hype."



Filed under: Jessica Simpson

Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 4)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. i cant stand hoes named jessica

Posted at 9:57PM on Sep 7th 2006 by jessica

17. She should never have let all of the hype go to her head and left Nick.

Being eye-candy can only get you so far. At some point you have to have something else to offer.

I hope Nick and Vanessa are very happy!

Posted at 9:57PM on Sep 7th 2006 by Tina

18. I am not going to totally side with with Rob Sutter. I do notknowanything about him, HOWEVER I do know about Jessica Inc. I find it hard tobeleive that Rob S. , the publists ,would be allowed to run withthis story or any story involving Joe's little darling child ,Jessica, without his knowledge. The stories all had reports and quotes and pics from Jess and Joe and pics /reports of attending Mayer/Sheryl Crow concert at Jones Beach. I am betting the Joe/Jess camp knew of thsi story and let it get out about Jessica and John Mayer, and now since John Mayer dumped her and she looks bad now, "Hey , lets fire Rob the publists and say it was his fault."

Posted at 10:19PM on Sep 7th 2006 by TexMex

19. I agree with TexMex (#19). She has been trying so hard to look appealing to the public again and get everyone to root for her since she filed for divorce. Since this love story with John Mayer backfired and turned negative, the publicist takes the blame. Didn't she fire one of her longtime agents recently too? Like some time after she filed for divorce and most people were siding with Nick, accusing her of cheating and what not? Her and her father are so transparent!

Posted at 10:32PM on Sep 7th 2006 by Stacy

20. Jessica has let money and fame blow her head up like a hot air ballon. A lesson Jessica needs to learn is any man will sleep with you and say your pretty, but not many men are going to stick by your side with all the dumb stuff she did and her crazy family. All Nick wanted her to do was act like she had a brain and maybe be able to bend over and pick up her clothes. This publicist is just caught up in her disfunctional family, to bad it was his job. John Mayer probably got what he wanted and doesn't want to put up with her. Jessica let the best thing go that she had....Nick...he's better off with out Jessica and her nutty family.

Posted at 10:34PM on Sep 7th 2006 by DjC

21. can anyone say Scrap goat LOL

Posted at 11:13PM on Sep 7th 2006 by deb

22. Someone had to take the fall for her weak album sales.

Posted at 12:41AM on Sep 8th 2006 by J. Box

23. Mayer was used for publicity and this publicist is just being used as the fall guy. Trust me Poppa Joe Simpson was behind the leak just as he was behind Jessica dating Nick, the marriage and then later the divorce...The latter of which came when Nick appeared to be of no further use in advancing Jessica's career!!! This people in the Simpson family are fame whores...more interested in finding stepping stone relationships for their daughters than really meaningful and loving relationships for them. What a shame!!! In Hollywood, when the only people you date are other famous people, they call you a Star F'er...and that's exactly what Jessica is becoming. Someone who dates others who are famous in order to occult their fame for herself. It's sort of the Monica Lewinsky effect...she orally serviced Bill Clinton during the close of his presidency, and thus became famous as a result!!! Think of it as gaining fame by association...Now Jessica and Dad have set their sights on John Mayer, having failed to reel in Johnny Knoxville, Dane Cook and director Brett Ratner!!! These people have really help john Mayer loss credibility with his audience...I mean...you'd think he'd date someone with more on the ball than Hollywood's latest dumb blonde...or associate himself with her alledgedly calcualating and ruthless father!!!

Posted at 4:04AM on Sep 8th 2006 by Blue Gloves

24. Come to think of it maybe she didn't have a throat infection, it was just to carry the story about her and Mayer.

Posted at 9:18AM on Sep 8th 2006 by indiesr

25. Why is everyone so vicious ? -- She seems like a sweet girl-- No one can compete with all the press and paparazzi trying to make up things about your life for their own benefit. It is not her fault -- someone lied and the press just had a field day with personal misinformation --which is just plain wrong. I am wondering how any of you would feel if someone made up something about your personal life and it was out in the public for everyone to gawk at.
And in my opinion, there must be a good reason why she wanted to leave Nick-- No one knows the intricasies of a relationship and to try to pass judgement on someone else's life and decisions is arrogant and just plain wrong.

Posted at 9:27AM on Sep 8th 2006 by Karen

26. They are making him a scapegoat, he wouldn't make a move without Papa Joe's approval, he was quoted saying he was happy for her! She was absolutely in on it too, the fat drag queen. Oh, just get another boob job, it'll all work out....

Posted at 9:27AM on Sep 8th 2006 by lynchpin

27. It is so apparent that Joe Simpson was behind all the hype -- and now the publicist gets to be the scapegoat!!!!! Note to Joe (and Jessica) - you are not fooling anyone!!!!! Jessica, if you have any hope of reclaiming any fans -- you need to cut daddy loose!!!!! I think your 15 minutes are up--

Posted at 9:34AM on Sep 8th 2006 by Stephanie

28. I still believe in you and that you will come back strong as ever. I will be praying for you.

Posted at 9:40AM on Sep 8th 2006 by Drew

29. To Jessica: If you are reading this, I hope you are proud of yourself. All of your fathers exploits and your bubbleheaded blondeness has finally taken its toll on your career. Your image isnt working anymore, you are not working anymore. There is no sense of reality with you, just gaining as much fame as you can. Your family is really pathetic when it comes to all of this. No one respects your family. Your father probably orchistrated the whole thing. I bet he sent you to that concert to get your picture taken with John Mayer so that there would be something to put in the tabloids. John seems like a smart guy...and he was smart to run away. BTW I did momentarily lose respect for him when i thought you all were dating...now its back. This image of "being slutty, and stupid" is just annoying...for godsakes stop it already. You are doing yourself no favors and neither are you for anyone else. You lost Nick, who obviously loved you more than anything. All I have to say to that is Karma is a bitch! Nick and Vanessa dont buy into this Hollywood distorted reality crap. Hes actually found someone he can hang out with while you are running around Hollywood trying to make yourself out to be like Paris Hilton. IDIOT!!! You are just an idiot. You let fame get to your head and lost your husband who actually seems to have a good guy head on his shoulders. You and your dad probably thought Nick was old news and that you could go further without him. Why the hell do you people in Hollywood do this...use marriage, fights, etc. in order to gain publicity?!?!?? All of you need to grow up and deflate your egos...its getting freaking ridiculous. You are trying to present yourself as some party girl, but when in reality most party girls (aka paris hilton) arent famous....they are jokes. You are now a joke...congratulations!
Well enjoy your fantasy filled life of empty relationships and manipulative friends. You just lost the one rock that would have stayed with you til the day you died and loved you no matter what! Pathetic!

Posted at 9:45AM on Sep 8th 2006 by Ams

30. PLEASE !

I can't believe all this BS.....Papa Joe had freaking quotes in those mags how he adored John Mayer, and was happy for them, blah, blah, blah----
those 2 covers and interviews the past weeks were NOT the publist fault at all !

Jess---PLEASE Divorce your DAD next ! he's killing your career! He was/ and has always been jealous of your relationship and marriage to Nick---your dad is CREEPY !

Posted at 9:56AM on Sep 8th 2006 by coolmom4pink

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