Jessica Simpson, who seemed to slur during a recent Home Shopping Network appearance, appeared "loopy" during a speech Tuesday at the YMA Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards.

"She stands up in front of the crowd and goes, 'Ooooh, awards speech' in a breathy voice," said a spy at the Marriott Marquis. "Jessica seemed very out of it … I couldn't follow it at all."

But her rep snapped, "Jessica was not 'loopy,' she was choked up and emotional after the heartfelt introduction … given by Louise Camuto, the wife of her recently deceased business partner and mentor. It is disappointing that you are choosing to focus on a moment of honest emotion rather than on the prestigious award she received for her work."

This article originally appeared in the New York Post's Page Six.