14 DAY TRIAL // Singer and aspiring actress Ashlee Simpson has recently been axed from “Melrose Place,” the remake of the once immensely popular television series, as we also reported. The official line was that the part was never meant to be more than a short-lived appearance, but sources familiar with the production are telling Fox411 there was more to it than producers told the media.
Speculation that Heather Locklear, a member of the original cast, had something to do with Simpson’s firing began shortly after the official announcement of her departure was made. At the time, spies claimed that Locklear herself insisted that Simpson be fired because she was stealing all the thunder she felt she deserved. Not necessarily so, other insiders are now saying, but that doesn’t mean Locklear did not play a minor part in having Simpson fired.
For starters, Ashlee was always acting like a diva with the other members of the cast, which made her officially the most unpopular star on the show. Secondly, the insider explains, when the cameras were rolling, she didn’t know how to act because, frankly, she isn’t cut out to be an actress. Third but not last, producers were desperate to get someone from the original cast to boost ratings, so, when they finally landed Locklear, they also realized they couldn’t have her unless they let someone else go. The obvious choice was, of course, Simpson, who was consequently cut loose.
“Ashlee Simpson’s diva behavior got her booted from the CW hit ‘Melrose Place,’ a source close to one cast member tells Fox411. ‘Ashlee was kicked off “Melrose Place” because she was a total diva on set, late all the time, and deeply disliked by fellow cast members,’ the insider spills. ‘It created a lot of Discord among the cast.’ Another big problem, says the snitch? ‘She could barely act.’” Fox411 writes.
“But not being able to act and being a diva hardly set Simpson apart from many of the venerable primetime soap’s stars, both current and past. The insider tells Fox411 it was the producer’s need to bring in one of those past stars that also hastened Simpson’s swan song. The source says producers desperately wanted Heather Locklear to reprise her role, but couldn’t afford her salary demands without cutting someone.” the same e-zine explains.
So, CW cut their losses fast, axed Ashlee Simpson and, this way, managed to bring back Heather Locklear, who is admittedly the bigger star of the two. Whichever may be the case, Ashlee’s sister, Jessica Simpson, is not at all happy with the outcome, taking to Twitter to vent her frustration and call “Melrose Place” a lame show, as we also informed you the other day.