Papa Joe Got Too Close to Mama Gorilla

By Jo Piazza Posted Dec 2nd 2009 06:13AM

It's nice to have famous daughters who want to hang out with you. Joe Simpson recently tagged along with his daughter Jessica while she was filming her new VH1 show 'The Price of Beauty' in Africa, but the cameras didn't follow dear old dad when he channeled his inner Dian Fossey, flying into the heart of the Ugandan jungle to chill out with the gorillas in the mist, and angering one motherly gorilla who was protecting her baby. His Close Call After the Jump!

"We had a great time. There's nothing better than traveling the world. It was the most wonderful experience with Jessica in Morocco," Simpson told PopEater at the after-party at NYC's Inc. lounge for his other daughter Ashlee Simpson-Wentz's Broadway debut in 'Chicago.'

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Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Jessica Simpson is seen here attending the premiere of sister Ashlee's Broadway debut in 'Chicago.' Click for More Pics of Jessica >>>

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Jessica Simpson Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Singer Jessica Simpson is spotted with her father and manager, Joe Simpson, on Park Avenue. NON-EXCLUSIVE December 1, 2009 Job: 91201M5 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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In this photo provided by StarPix, actress Jessica Simpson attends the after party for her sister Ashlee Simpson-Wentz's Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Marion Curtis, StarPix)

Jessica Simpson attends the afterparty for Ashley Simpson-Wentz's Broadway Debut in "Chicago" at Inc. Lounge on November 30, 2009 in New York, New York. Ashley Simpson-Wentz Broadway Debut - Afterparty Inc. Lounge New York, NY United States November 30, 2009 Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com To license this image (17062448), contact WireImage.com

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While he loved spending time with Jess, his favorite part of the trip was his personal adventure with the apes, which no one else on the family wanted to join in on.

"Uganda was my favorite. After our trip was over I spent some time with the gorillas," Simpson said. "I flew into Uganda, drove for two and a half hours, hiked for seven hours and traversed down 3000 feet to sit with the mountain gorillas for about an hour."

For the most part, Joe says the apes were pretty cool and bored by him, but things got tense when he tried to snap a picture of a baby gorilla.

"There was a mother gorilla and I tried to pull a branch down so I could take a picture and she was like 'Gahhhhh.' And you can't run because they'll attack you."

The whole Simpson clan -- Joe, Tina, Jessica, baby Bronx and in-law Pete Wentz -- are finished traveling for 2009 and they are planning to spend the holidays in New York City since Ashlee is performing 8 shows a week through February.

"We're all going to be here for the holiday to be with Ashlee," Joe Simpson said. "We love New York during the holidays." Ashlee added, "It is Bronx's first real Christmas so we are just excited to spend it with him."