Joe Simpson's Baby Pic Expectations Only Off By $940,000

April 17, 2008

While Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz continue to play “Hide the Belly Bump” with the paparazzi, the pop star’s father is thinking ahead. According to the New York Post’s Page Six, Joe Simpson has been trying to secure a deal with a glossy for the first exclusive photos of the impending emo infant.

"Joe is contacting all the weeklies and asking them to pony up $1 million US to put Ashlee on the cover," a magazine editor tells Page Six. “The deal would include photos of Ashlee -- taken by Joe, of course, so he can make more money -- an interview and photos of the baby when she has it.”

There’s just one hitch: while Papa Joe thinks his daughter’s spawn will attract the same interest as Brangelina’s brood, the mags are laughing off his $1 million price tag.

"Joe has an unrealistic expectation of what Ashlee can command," the editor tells Page Six. "$60,000 maybe - but definitely not a million. The timing is a little suspicious. Her album is dropping next week, and there was little to no interest until now. Ashlee's lucky she got pregnant, frankly."

Of course, no one would ever dare to suggest Simpson and boyfriend Pete Wentz are using the spermination speculation to create publicity for her new album. Instead, they’re laying low and avoiding the maybe baby rumours by dropping teasing non-denials in the press and creating a paparazzi feeding frenzy by enjoying a double date with Nicole Richie and Joel Madden in New York on Wednesday. Media manipulation is soo punk!