Joss Stone has reportedly been axed as the face of Gap because of her affair with an older man. Sources claim the teenage soul singer was dropped by the fashion giants because she was romancing 25-year-old music producer Beau Dozier.

The star sparked controversy across America when she moved into her lover's Los Angeles home when she was just 17 - below California's age of consent. It meant Dozier could have faced charges of statutory rape if he was sleeping with Joss. Although the star is now 18, she was recently snapped smooching Dozier, which didn't impress Gap bosses, according to a Britain's Mail on Sunday.

An insider revealed: "People take things such as the age of consent extremely seriously in America. "It is all good and well to have glamorous celebrities endorsing the clothes but the backbone of Gap's business is in small towns in Middle America where people are very, very conservative, especially in the Bible Belt.". The source added: "As a result, I think they have made it pretty clear that Stone's association with the company is over".

Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams will replace the teen singer in the ad campaign, while Gap bosses have denied Joss's relationship with Dozier was the reason she was dropped.

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Posted by Lawren at July 26, 2005 08:13 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

I think Gap made a smart choice here albeit they were a little late in knowing their new underage "star" was living with her older lover--a black man too if I remember right. Most of the country isn't L.A. or New York.

Says: Nanc' at July 26, 2005 09:27 AM

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"A black man too" - what does that mean? Too? as in also? as in statutory rape AND interracial relationship - are you comparing the 2? Interesting.

Says: Kelly at July 26, 2005 08:48 PM

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