Fallout from Ashlee's pregnancy
Ashlee Simpson's handlers aren't admitting she's expecting but are planning how to spread the news
One thing about pregnancies: You only can keep them ''quiet'' for a short time.
While Ashlee Simpson and fiance Pete Wentz have yet to officially confirm the pending birth of their first child, I hear Simpson's team — including her dad, Joe — just held a powwow to figure out a strategy about going public on that, plus finalizing a date (and location) for the couple's wedding.
I'm hearing that Ashlee's walk down the aisle will be fairly soon — most likely by the end of this month, perhaps over Memorial Day weekend. Word has it, the nuptials will occur either at a private estate in Santa Barbara, Calif. (No, not Oprah Winfrey's!), or a fairly remote ranch in Montana, owned by a longtime friend of the Simpson family.
As they have since the couple's engagement was announced, reps for both Simpson and her Wilmette fiance continue to decline comment on the pregnancy rumors and insist there is no wedding date set — nor has a location for the ceremony been finalized.
IMAGE MAKEOVER: Look for lots more ''soft 'n' fuzzy'' public relations appearances by Victoria Beckham like the chummy satellite interview she and her soccer superstar husband, David, did for Oprah's Tom Cruise show on Monday.
Of course, that one was a no-brainer — the Beckhams are very fond of Cruise — but it illustrates the kinds of appearances being suggested to the woman who found fame as Posh Spice. She needs to appear ''nicer'' if she's ''ever going to make it in America long term,'' said an associate of the Beckhams.
IT'S OVER: The breakup of Liv Tyler's marriage with her British rocker hubby, Royston Langdon, had been rumored for weeks -- especially since Tyler was seen searching alone for a new apartment in New York. Her publicist made it official Thursday, issuing the usual boilerplate statement about ''remaining good friends and devoted parents'' to son Milo and ''requesting that their family's privacy be respected at this time.''
The couple married in 2003, and their son was born in December 2004.
According to a close Tyler pal, ''The overriding emotion here is sadness, not bitterness nor rancor. It's just another case of two good people who have slowly drifted apart after realizing that they no longer have all that much in common, with the exception of Milo, whom they both adore.''
ON THE AGENDA: Mentalist Christopher Carter — the master of all kinds of psychic hocus-pocus, including wild illusions, hypnosis and mind-blowing intuitive skills — will perform tonight and Saturday night at the Skokie Theatre. ... Filmmaker Darryl Roberts, whose award-winning ''America the Beautiful'' documentary about our national obsession with beauty opens at Landmark Century Theaters today, throws out the first pitch at Wrigley Field Sunday. ... Lulu de Kwiatkowski, the New York socialite, artist and designer (featured in the current Vanity Fair), will be here May 20, when Oprah's fave designer, Nate Berkus; Boeing honcho Courtney Thompson, and assorted pals throw a party at the Elements store on North Wells celebrating de Kwiatkowski's new Lulu art book.
SWEATIN' WITH RICHARD: As exercise and weight-loss guru Richard Simmons prepared to hit town this weekend (for appearances at the Walgreens in Western Springs and Park Ridge today and Saturday), he joked to me about his recent ''Sweatin' to the Oldies'' cruise — where 400 fans attended an early 60th birthday party for him.
''Can you imagine? All those people came dressed like me — in striped shorts and sequined tank tops. Great ... but just a little bit scary!''
But Simmons turned deadly serious when talking about America's increasing obesity — especially among the youth, ''now that they've cut out recess and physical education in an overwhelming percentage of schools in this country.'' Simmons encourages people to write their congressmen to boost his ''Fit Kids'' bill ''to restore P.E. in schools — something I'm disappointed none of the presidential candidates is actively supporting.''