Simpson 'disgusted' by weight criticism

Ashlee Simpson has said that that she is "disgusted" by press criticism of her sister Jessica's weight.

The pop singer claimed that it was "belittling to all women" that magazines decided to run headlines about her sibling's size.

"I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister's weight," the 24-year-old wrote on her blog. "Since when did a woman's weight become newsworthy?

"A week after [Barack Obama's] inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman's weight or figure. All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you're a celebrity, there shouldn't be a different standard."

She added: "How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticise a size 2 figure? Now can we focus on the things that really matter?"