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Jessica Simpson Thanks Fans for Support in Weight-Gate

by Celebuzz on Jan. 30, 2009 10:30 AM / 2 Comments

Everyone seems to have weighed in on Jessica Simpson's recently expanded figure in the past few days, and last night during a concert in Charlottesville, Virginia, Simpson offered a little veiled commentary on the topic herself, People reports.

Simpson, 28, opened for country act Rascal Flatts at the University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena. In her first performance since unflattering photos of her performing at a chili cookoff in Florida sparked the Great Weight Debate, Tony Romo's gal thanked her fans for supporting her through the ordeal.

While not mentioning the photos in particular, Simpson—clad in skintight leather pants that seemed calculated to silence the haters—told the audience, "I feel like in our world today we focus on so many things that are completely pointless."

Simpson went on to offer gratitude to her fans at the end of her set, stating, "Thank you for your support. Stay positive, and pray out loud! I love you guys, and goodnight."

Concert attendees were quick to come to Simpson's defense.

University of Virginia freshman Laura Tiezzi told the magazine, "She's obviously comfortable with herself to wear those leather pants."

Meanwhile, kindergarten teacher Debbie Stollings, 43, pleaded, "Good lord, give the woman a break, she looks great. It's mean. She looks more curvy, more womanly. She looks healthy. If Tony Romo's happy, everybody else need to be too."

Of course, that's assuming that Romo really is happy with the situation.

Check out our photos of Jessica Simpson at the concert last night. Then tell us what you think in the comments section: Is too much being made of her fuller figure?

Quotables /

“All of this would've been a touching, poignant moment of self-empowerment, except for the four rolls of electrical tape wrapped around Jessica's stomach.”