Yesterday, Sarah showed you new photos that basically confirm Jessica Simpson’s pregnancy. So why won’t Jess just come out and tell us what we already know?
Uh, money, that’s why. According to the New York Post, the former pop tart is holding out, asking for a cool half-million dollars for her official, exclusive pregnancy announcement—for $750,000, you can have the exclusive baby photos, too!—but People, Us Weekly, and OK! have already passed on Simpson’s offer. Ouch. (Supposedly, OK! will confirm Jessica’s pregnancy in this Thursday’s issue, presumably without Jessica’s participation.)
Why all this disinterest? Is it because Jessica hasn’t put out an album in years? Is it because no one has ever even heard of her football-playin’ fiancé? Is it because we all already know she’s pregnant, and therefore an “exclusive” would be overkill?
ABC News asked PR bigwig Ronn Torossian to explain this terrible, terrible catastrophe:
“I think she might have missed the boat for a big payday,” he said.
Working against the pop star is a “tough economy,” Torossian said.
“Economy does matter,” Torossian, the man who brokered the multi-million payout for pictures of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, said. “Media today are less likely to take big chances. I don’t know if they want to gamble on Jessica Simpson.”
So what does it take to get the magazines to cough up the cash these days?
“For any celebrities, a hot mom and a hot dad help,” said Torossian. “Both parents being notable helps.”
Torossian concludes that Simpson needs to drop her asking price—$500K is a little much. (Others agree.) And ABC’s news article goes on,
In 2008, despite the economic downturn, there were bidding wars for baby photos.
Topping the list were Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who sold pictures of twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon for $11 million, which they donated to charity, according to French newspaper Nice Matin.
That same year, TMZ.com reported that Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves pawned off the first photos of their newborn son Levi to OK! magazine for $3 million.
So there you have it, directly from ABC News, which is, like, a real actual news source. (Thanks for the analysis, ABC! Now get back to reporting on Occupy Wall Street, please.) ABC’s conclusion: If you’re enough of a celebrity, the economic downturn won’t hamper your ability to sell off your baby photos. But if you’re Jessica Simpson… yeah. Yikes.