Jessica Simpson has been on the news lately and it’s all been negative publicity. The singer has been criticized for her new “curvy figure” she revealed at the Kiss Country’s annual Chili Cookoff last week, but her sister Ashlee Simpson and other celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian were quick to defend Jessica.

In a performance by Jessica Simpson at a Virginia stage Thursday night, she thanked the crowd of Charlottesville for their support and to “Stay positive, and pray out loud! I love you guys, good night.” It seems that the hush-hush hasn’t affected her much, but on her performance at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, the 28-year-old singer became outspoken about the recent criticisms regarding her weight.

Wearing tight black pants, a V-neck T-shirt and hip-length black jacket, Jessica Simpson tells the crowd, “Please remember, no matter what you go through in life, somebody else might have it harder. So just appreciate.I feel like in our world today we focus on so many things that are completely pointless.”

Oh no, not that belt thing again on her stomach. Check out the photos of Jessica Simpsom in Virginia after the jump…