Ashlee Simpson's got Marie Claire readers all bent out of shape.

The magazine received hundreds of letters in protest after the singer was a cover subject for a story on body image. The magazine's new editor agrees with the outrage, and she included a note in an expanded letters section taking the singer to task for what she calls an "obvious" nose job.

"She was quoting chapter and verse about how crucial it is to love yourself as you are, etc.," Editor in Chief Joanna Coles wrote. "We're dazed and confused — and disappointed — by her choice too!"

In the July cover story, Simpson helped a group of teenage girls make a mural that celebrated the female figure. The girls from Los Angeles' Green Dot Public Schools painted messages of empowerment such as "Beautiful Mind," "Confidence Is Sexy" and "Women Rock" on the mural.

"Everyone is made differently, and that's what makes us beautiful and unique," Simpson told the magazine. "I want girls to look in the mirror and feel confident."

Readers were outraged that Simpson gave such lip service to accepting one's body for what it is when her apparently new face was making the news.

"I realize you can't control what your cover models do after the interview and photo shoot, but still!" one reader from Denver wrote.

"The article ... was a joke, right?" a reader from Boston asked.

"You couldn't have picked a worse role model!" fumed a reader from Toronto.

Other readers called Simpson "hypocritical" as well as "vapid, self-absorbed, [and] body-conscious," with a reader from Los Angeles concluding, "She runs counter to everything I've come to appreciate in your magazine."

In response to the reader outrage, Coles wrote in the September issue, on newsstands August 15, "What can we say? Her nose, her choice. (Although we rather liked her original one: She had that Gisele Bündchen thing going on)."

And in response to the editor giving so much space to the subject, Simpson's rep Rob Shuter said, "I'm sorry the new editor is using Ashlee to get publicity for her magazine."

Whatever cosmetic changes Simpson might have made to herself, she did say in the Marie Claire story that her beauty image is only skin-deep.

"Have there been times when I've been insecure? Hell, yeah!" Simpson said. "But have I ever felt unhappy with what I'm actually doing in my life? No."

Gotta love the things the stars do.

I don't disagree with Ashlee for getting a nosejob. And I don't call her a hypocrite. I think it's okay for her to say to girls that they should be happy with their own body, and still get work done. It's a valid message. She's not saying, "Just because I'm getting a nosejob you should, too." She's just saying how she personally feels, not what she personally does. She's saying what she believes is right and healthy, not what she does due to her own insecurities. I'm pro-Ashlee on this one.

I don't disagree with Ashlee for getting a nosejob. And I don't call her a hypocrite. I think it's okay for her to say to girls that they should be happy with their own body, and still get work done. It's a valid message. She's not saying, "Just because I'm getting a nosejob you should, too." She's just saying how she personally feels, not what she personally does. She's saying what she believes is right and healthy, not what she does due to her own insecurities. I'm pro-Ashlee on this one.

That's a very mixed message.

Celebrities should not be role models for teenagers, but they are. And when a celebrity, especially a young girl, tells other girls to celebrate how they look and stop being insecure---then goes out and remakes herself into a Barbie doll, that's extremely hypocritical. Teenagers will see that, and I have to wonder how it makes them feel.

Ashlee IS insecure. Her dad obviously favors Jessica, so she felt she had to look more like her older sister to get noticed. Along with her new nose, she's gotten collagen injections, which Jessica also gets on a regular basis. Not every female celebrity has to have slim noses, bronze skin, and puffy lips.

Well, I do agree that Ashlee looked fine, post-"work." But I still won't cast stones at her for doing what she needed to do to feel comfortable with her body.

On that note, what celebrity COULD Marie Claire have used? They all get work done!

On that note, what celebrity COULD Marie Claire have used? They all get work done!

Well, that's true!

They need to put Dolly Parton on there. She doesn't care that she's had a lot of work done, and she's completely honest about it. Those are the type of celebs we need, the ones that admit, instead of try to cover up and they look even more stupid because everybody knows!

If I remember correctly, there was an interview with Hunter Tylo about body image and she said something to the extent of loving yourself and being happy just as you are. But when the interviewer turned the tables and asked about Tylo...she completely shut down.

She's like a bad luck charm. I like her music though. But she needs to be a recluse because she sucks at everything else.

Ashlee IS insecure. Her dad obviously favors Jessica, so she felt she had to look more like her older sister to get noticed.

I'll say. The relationship Joe has with Jess is incestuous(if that's the word), on a psychological level. Her mother should feel weird about that.

I've heard that many times, sweetness. But do we actually have proof?

Hey JSF, should god be angry at Ashlee for changing her appearance? I mean, she was BORN a certain way. Why should she undue god's work right?

I've heard that many times, sweetness. But do we actually have proof?

He's made lots of references to Jessica's chest.

Not only the chest reference, Joe also said that Jessica's virginity belonged to him first. Now if that's not the ultimate creepy dad statement, I don't know what is.

Hey JSF, should god be angry at Ashlee for changing her appearance? I mean, she was BORN a certain way. Why should she undue god's work right?

Um, if she has no self-esteem for it and it honestly bugs her, why SHOULDN'T she change it? If she feels undignified or lesser of a person because of her body, why shouldn't she change it? This isn't a religious issue. It's just a cosmetic procedure that's helping her better herself. I'm not sure why we're bringing God into plastic surgery!

Not only the chest reference, Joe also said that Jessica's virginity belonged to him first. Now if that's not the ultimate creepy dad statement, I don't know what is.

I'm a pretty big plastic surgery advocate, actually. But I think if you do it, you shouldn't be talking about loving your body the way it is.

Not only the chest reference, Joe also said that Jessica's virginity belonged to him first. Now if that's not the ultimate creepy dad statement, I don't know what is.

That is SO GROSS!

I agree but if it were soap it would be SO hot.