Today's Evil Beet Gossip

Ashlee Simpson Takes on Pete’s Name

Ashlee has legally changed her name to Ashlee Wentz, although professionally she’ll go by Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. How very Courteney Cox-Arquette of her.

“I think that that’s something that a woman should do when they’re marrying a man,” she says. “It’s a tradition that I think is a great tradition.”

Eh, I spent about six years of my life dating a guy whose last name was “Shue.” We talked marriage a lot, and, honestly, one of the sticking points for him was that I told him I wasn’t going to take on his last name, because, in combination with my first name, it would sound like a sneeze. He didn’t think that was very cool of me. I’m not fundamentally opposed to taking a man’s last name (although my own mother kept her last name), but if it’s going to make my full name sound like a bodily excretion, I’m just not interested.

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  • A “great tradition”? Ugh. Not that Ashlee Simpson would know about the origins of marital naming and the patriarchal and oppressive history of marriage. I’m not criticizing women who take their husband’s name–I just think it should be a woman’s choice and not based on “tradition” or expectation or social pressure etc.

  • “I think that that’s something that a woman should do when they’re marrying a man,” she says. “It’s a tradition that I think is a great tradition.”

    UMMMMMMMMM. I HATE HER.

  • “if it’s going to make my full name sound like a bodily excretion, I’m just not interested.” – And we finally have an explanation as to why you broke off things with Doug Lowd-Pharte.

  • Wow, sounds like Ashlee needs to go back to school. It is that much of a stretch of the imagination to realize that the naming tradition was based on a patriarchal society? Personally, my dad doesn’t have any sons and my boyfriend has a great last name, but I like my name so I want my children to have it, even if it is hyphenated.

  • They remind me of those creepy bratz dolls but as some sort of boy&girl emo hairdresser set. I wonder what they’ll name the baby, probably something cliche like Nico or Francoise. If I were a plastic emo doll I would go for something dark and origional like Skylark or Pop-tart.

  • I am guessing that she thinks (I’m using ‘think’ lightly here) that since Jess didn’t change her name, ever, to Jessica Lachey (or Simpson-Lachey) that that means it’s bad luck to NOT take hubby’s name.

    That or Pete beat her ass and told her she’d become a Wentz or else….

  • I like my last name because if you get it hyphenated, it can make the most common last name sound snooty and foreign.

  • Since she will be divorcing in a year or two, it is stupid of her to have changed her name. It is such a hassle to change names back!

  • > oppressive history of marriage.

    I agree. Males have been controlled and oppressed for a very long time. We need to stand up and say “I won’t take it any more. From here on out I won’t allow myself to be bossed around by my wife”.

    I am serious. Anyone who thinks the man is in charge of a marriage is a fool.

  • my future husband will be faced with taking my last name although it sounds like “shoe shit.”

  • I kept my name. Hyphenating it wasn’t an option. He bitched a little but I wasn’t budging. Fuck it, why should my name change? It’s mine and who I am. I’ll answer to it if I’m called Mrs. Hislastname but he has to respect me and answer should he be called Mr. Mylastname. My mother actually sent us a Christmas card once addressed to Mr. and Mrs. His Name. I couldn’t believe it. The woman who named me did that. Couldn’t even put Mr. and Mrs. His and My Name.

    And if we were to have kids, it would piss me off for them to just get his name as I guarantee I’d be doing the greated majority of the work.

    I hate the practise of women taking his name and it disappoints me when they do.

  • I used to work with a young lady whose first name was Tinker(seriously) and she didn’t marry the guy she was in a longterm relationship with because his last name was Bell. She didnt like the idea of going through life as Tinker Bell.

  • I took my husband’s last name and it was one of the most infuriating red tape bs issues I have dealt with. Should we get divorced I will not be rushing to change it back since that is even more of a headache. I also have the pleasure of being an Abercrombie. Yes, that is really his and my last name. I used to think it was funny when we were dating to hear the inane quips about the store and such. I must say after it became my name it chaps my ass something fierce. I now reply with, “Oh, I have never heard THAT before. How original.” Shuts them up every time. So yeah Ashlee Simpson Wentz enjoy writing that out whenever you have to sign something.

  • it doesn’t matter what she calls herself….she’ll be divorced in a year and she’ll have to change it back. didn’t she learn anything from pam anderson lee anderson?

  • I think it’s fine to keep your maiden name, but can someone explain the “patriarchal society” argument for doing so? In most cases, isn’t the name you were born with your father’s name? So you’re not taking one man’s name because you’re keeping another man’s name. Keep, change, or make up a new one–it really shouldn’t matter, or cause people to judge how liberated, or conservative (oppressed) you are.

  • You know, I got married the same day as these two douchebags and took my hubby’s last name. I’m not in People. Just sayin’. But to my husband’s credit he feels legitimately guilty that I decided to take his name. He thinks it isn’t fair since he’s not taking mine.

  • I agree with Ernestine.
    Maybe Ashlee Wentz can sing. Ashley Simpson can’t. This is the first step away from Papa Simpson.
    She wants her marriage to work.
    Maybe her dead head sister should have done the same.
    Be happy Ashlee, congrats on pending motherhood!

  • i’m reading all your old posts and I just laughed so hard when i said sasha shue out loud.
    i always wanted my last name to be blanket, and then i’d spell my first name with two z’s.

    Lizz Blanket

    i thought it was cool at the time..and well whatever, i still might think its cool