Jessica Simpson Gets Emotional About Society’s Obsession With Her Weight: ‘It Hurts’

Photo credit: Amy Sussman - Getty Images
Photo credit: Amy Sussman - Getty Images
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Jessica Simpson opened up about society’s obsession with her body and weight, and how it’s impacted her.

  • The singer said she focused on eating well and working with a nutritionist to lose weight after having her third child, Birdie.

  • Simpson said she’s involved in something big that’s coming soon and gets her “back into the entertainment business.”


It’s almost been a year since superstar Jessica Simpson shared an “unrecognizable” photo of herself to mark four years of sobriety, and fans have been watching in awe as the star has risen to center stage once again. But there’s one topic about the star that won’t stop making headlines: Her weight and body size. Now, the 42-year-old is getting real about how society’s obsession with her body is making her feel.

In a recent interview with Extra TV, the star offered insight into how the last few year’s worth of headlines have affected her, and what her future career is shaping up to look like.

“People really like to talk about me,” the mom of three began. When asked if she has gotten used to the talk about her weight and appearance Simpson responded, “No. Oh, gosh, no. I mean, would any woman?”

But she expected some commentary on her appearance. Simpson revealed when she first starred as Daisy Duke in the 2005 movie The Dukes of Hazzard, actress Lynda Carter warned her that she’d forever be compared to that point of her life.

“Lynda Carter warned me on the set of Dukes of Hazzard she was like, ‘I will always be Wonder Woman and compared to Wonder Woman. And that’s what you’re doing here as Daisy Duke. Just know the words Daisy Duke will follow you for the rest of your career,’” Simpson said.

But, like the rest of us, Simpson is only human, and the constant criticism hasn’t left her unscathed. “I’ve been criticized and it hurts, and I’ve been every weight and I’ve been proud of it,” she said. “I decided, okay, everyone is going to talk about my weight all the time, I might as well make money off of it and turn it into a business of selling clothes and acceptance.”

Simpson has worked hard over the years to maintain her health. After having her third child, Birdie, in 2019, the singer decided to take her health into her own hands and work toward feeling her very best—which ultimately led to her 100-lb. weight loss.

“I went to a nutritionist and I needed to get my eating habits right,” she said. “I absolutely feel healthy. I feel like my old self before I had children and all my hormones going wild. I feel younger, actually. I feel younger. I have a lot more energy.”

Like most of us, Simpson’s journey to body acceptance has been fraught with highs and lows. She admitted to taking diet pills for 20 years when being told to lose weight, shared journal entries opening up about being brutally body shamed after a performance in 2009 where she wore “mom jeans,” and clapped back at an editor after being body-shamed for “having boobs.”

Simpson previously opened up about loving her body at every size and her hope that her clothing collection reflects her acceptance of all body types. “It’s hard to not see your flaws first, [but] I think that, as a society, things are changing. And that’s great because every body’s being celebrated,” she said. “I understand the mentality of all women, and I understand loving where you’re at or wanting more, or wanting something better.”

She added, “I always celebrate my body. The fact that it made children is unreal…but you just don’t ever think you’re going to fit back into things. It’s crazy. A woman’s body is phenomenal in what it can do.”

Simpson’s fans have a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks. The singer revealed she has something big in the works that will be announced very soon. “There’s a big proud moment that I can’t share yet, but it’s something that I’ve manifested since 2007 and it’s about to be out to the world. I can’t say it yet, but you’ll know actually really soon,” she teased. “I’m very proud of this because it gets me back into the entertainment business.”

You Might Also Like