It would have been an epic feud. Legendary, some might say. No, not Clay vs. Liston, or Holyfield vs. Tyson, or George Foreman vs. non-grilled meat. I’m talking silicone vs. saline, bad dye jobs vs. bad hair extensions. Tofu vs. bacon, if you will. That’s right, after Pamela Anderson attacked Jessica Simpson for wearing a dumb t-shirt that said “Real Women Eat Meat,” Jess wanted to get even. She wanted revenge. She wanted an epic feud. But so-called “rational” people talked her down.

Her sassy message tee (“Real Girls Eat Meat”) may have sparked tensions with her would-be adversary, but Jessica Simpson never expected to be branded a “bitch and a whore” by Pamela Anderson. According to The Sun, Jessica was ready to “go after” the former “Baywatch” babe when she learned of the low-blow comments Pam delivered to an Australian radio station.

“She was deeply hurt and upset at the comments,” an insider told the paper. “To say Jessica is mad about it is an understatement.”

Allegedly, Jessica was ready to jump headfirst into a full-fledged Hollywood feud, until her loved ones explained who the real winner would be.

“She is disgusted at Pamela’s remarks and fully intended to go after her, until her family made her see sense,” the source explained. “Her folks told her not to make a big deal of it — as that would only get Pamela the press she’s so desperate for.”

[From MSNBC]

I am so disappointed in Jessica Simpson’s maturity. I’m not saying she was mature for wearing the shirt in the first place, but for ultimately refusing to escalate this from a fight to a feud. I’ve always thought her parents were ridiculous nincompoops who wanted nothing more than to pimp their daughters out for whatever bit of fame and money they could. But telling her to rise above Pamela Anderson? Making her look classy and composed – at least in comparison? Not giving PETA more ammunition? That’s just good parenting. And generally well-thought-out advice all the way around. I feel like I don’t even know Joe Simpson anymore. And that might be the most upsetting part of this whole debacle.

Here’s Jessica Simpson leaving Caesar’s Palace after appearing on ‘The View’ on June 25th. Header photo of Jessica Simpson during the live taping of ‘The View,’ and Pamela Anderson attending a celebrity memorabilia auction at Planet Hollywood in vegas on June 21st. Photographer: Chris Connor. Images thanks to WENN.