In a spiked profile for a women's magazine, which was repurposed for content on Tina Brown's The Daily Best, Jennifer Lopez insisted she wasn't a Scientologist, but also: she hates psychologists and pills that help with anxiety. Which, you know, are absolutely not themes of Scientology! There was plenty of speculation, then, about which magazine spiked the story — almost certainly to please The Jennifer — and now, an answer. It was Robbie Myers' Elle who kicked reporter Kevin Sessums off the story after his first interview got too personal; that is, Lopez admitted to having a nervous breakdown in her trailer. Eek! And now that Brown published the material Sessums walked away with? "We're very unhappy about it, and think it was poor judgment on his part. As long as we have represented Jennifer, we have never heard her refer to having a breakdown of any sort."

According to a handful of Elle staffers we've spoke with in the past few weeks, the magazine's editor, Robbie Myers, is actually pretty well liked by many on the masthead. Sure, she has her flaws ("What's with the constant giggling?" snipes one; she's always in a "shitty mood," counters another) and we've been fed plenty of anecdotes to squeeze her in to some Jossip copy, but might Ms. Myers actually be running a fashion magazine and have the respect of her staff? Pity, then, that in New York's feature this week about the feud between soon-to-be-ex-Elle staffer Nina Garcia and fashion news director and Stylista face Anne Slowey, Myers didn't get to have her say. Though quizzed by the article's author (Gawker Media's Moe Tkacik) about Project Runway and Stylista, Myers wasn't asked about the supposed bad blood between her two minions. And that doesn't sit well with her: "That story is full of quotes about why I did what I did, how could they possibly know why I did anything or what motivated me to do anything in my job, unless they ask me? Even if someone else where to speculate about why I did something, the fact that nobody called me even to fact check it is egregious." (Myers has written us notes before, saying some of our coverage hurt her, too.) And there's the rub: Tkacik is, by profession, a blogger (from Jezebel to Gawker in some twisted job hijacking involving Radar), and we're trained not to ask those type of questions that might have you confuse us with journalists. But if her work is going to appear in New York, well, perhaps it should have met higher standards — and reported all sides of the story. By not doing so, well, this mini scandal stays alive.

It comes down to this: Nina Garcia and Anne Slowey played for separate teams under the same owner. Garcia, the former Elle fashion director who's now connected to the magazine in name only, was a protege of creative director Gilles Bensimon, who did not time to check his wristwatch for incoming Elle editor Robbie Myers, who arrived in 2000. Slowey, the fashion news editor and star of Elle's new fall reality show Stylista, is in the Myers camp, though perhaps only because she wasn't in the Bensimon camp.

Which isn't to say these two never got along — they did — but in the end, it explains why we've heard handfuls of stories, about both sides, trading gossip about each other.

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The sniping inside Elle continues, and the fella with the biggest target on his head is creative director Joe Zee.

Fresh off bitter internal reviews of the the magazine's reality show Stylista comes more criticism of Zee, who, with editor Robbie Myers, threw a viewing party for the twosome's Ugly Betty season finale cameos.

"Your story about the hype of the '1 second' cameo for Joe Zee on Ugly Betty was very accurate," says a spy. "No one could believe he would throw a party for such a thing. He is such a lens fly - will do or go anywhere to get on TV."

But it's not just Zee's vanity that's vexing staffers. It's what it's costing the magazine. A source says all of Zee's personal vamping and obsession with being on TV – and, apparently, in the magazine: he's spotted with Rihanna in her issue's table of contents – means "he has taken his eye off the ball at his day job." Translation?

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After all the chatter, Elle editor Robbie Myers and creative director Joe Zee made brief – we're talking approx. one full second each – appearances on last week's season finale of Ugly Betty, playing themselves when their magazine battled the show's Mode in a softball match. (Spoiler: Mode won, but they had Naomi Campbell on their side.)

We won't sweat the duo for throwing a viewing party in their own honor, which they did at the Tribeca Grand. (We'd be writing our moms, too, if we appeared on Betty!) And it's clear that they made the most of their bit parts: "Myers switched her line to Williams after striking out to 'Bite this' from 'Bite me' because the latter sounded too crude, while Zee ad-libbed his own zinger [aimed at Williams' character]: 'I'm not going to be distracted by how fat you look in white.'" Brill!

One Elle staffer reacted to their appearance in this way: "It was great for the magazine from [a branding perspective], but they came across as complete assholes … which I guess is how Joe likes to be perceived anyhow."

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Despite our excitement about Elle's The CW reality show Stylista, and fashion news director Anne Slowey playing the evil villainess, our behind-the-scenes spies are painting a less entertaining picture. At least for those working on the show.

As Jossip was the first to tell you last month, staffers have been roped into participating in the series unwillingly, being forced to ditch weekend plans to attend tapings at the show's faux office.

Now we're hearing two senior editors, Joann Pailey and Kate Lanphear, were blatantly lied to about their involvement on the show, originally being told they'd be extras, which they begrudgingly allowed, and then bait-and-switched into prominent roles as judges. "Both were completely humiliated and wanted nothing to do with it but were basically lied to by the powers that be," says an insider.

As for the overdramatic Slowey? "Where do you start," says our source.

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And you thought Nina Garcia's guest spot on Ugly Betty, airing Thursday was the only extension of the Elle brand into ABC primetime. Not so.

Now comes word that editor Robbie Myers and creative director Joe Zee are pulling a Me Too! and will also appear on the show, which actually fits in quite nicely with the rumors we reported back in December about the twosome holding talks with Ugly's producers. (Those meetings, which included America's Next Top Model's producers, also yielded the Elle reality show Fashionista.) Myers and Zee will represent Elle in a softball game against the show's Mode magazine, with Naomi Campbell guesting for the true-life magazine. (Easy joke: Will she be swinging at BlackBerrys?)

This, on the heels of Garcia having just been spotted (and trying to go unnoticed) leaving Hearst's glass tower, where it can only be assumed she's establishing her quote.

Ever since Robbie Myers and Joe Zee decided they wanted their own television project, the Elle brand has taken hit after hit. While they got Nina Garcia to guest spot on Ugly Betty, the fall out from firing her couldn't have been the type of publicity they were after.

Then last week, Ben Widdicombe reported contestants on Elle's reality show Fashionista were "getting under the feet of people who are actually trying to run the magazine"; nevermind the show is being filmed in a fake office.

Now we hear the guest judges Elle has enlisted to grade the contestants keep canceling, which means Elle editorial staffers are being pressured to fill in. Meanwhile, "a number" of senior editors at the mag are "furious" over having to film the show on weekends, two days that are supposed to be a reprieve from the grind. So how are those Elle staffer retaliating?

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On top of its Nina Garcia drama, Elle is now getting melodramatic calls from inside the house. It seems the reality show Robbie Myers and Joe Zee fought so hard for, Fashionista, is causing the staff to revolt. "The contestants, who are being put through various cockamamie challenges, are just getting under the feet of people who are actually trying to run the magazine. 'It's a nightmare,' one insider complained. 'And his real assistant hates it. No one believes they're actually going to hire the person who wins the reality show.'"

SO NOT TRUE! When Seventeen magazine aired MTV's Miss Seventeen in 2005, they totally hired winner Jennifer Steele. As an intern. (Then again, show quitter Brianne Burrowes also scored a minion gig.)

Why do the post-Elle Nina Garcia rumors keep circulating? Because no decisions have been made, which means it's conspiracy theory time! Though she's no longer the magazine's fashion director, Elle's Robbie Myers understands her relationship with Project Runway may hinge on her foe's involvement, which is why Myers is so ready to offer Garcia an editor-at-large assignment. That would at least keep her on the magazine's masthead, but only through season six, according to one rumor mill, which means she'd be done wit Elle by mid-October. Meanwhile, Harvey Weinstein, who is taking the show to Lifetime, could possibly keep her on the show sans Elle affiliation. She would simply be listed as "author and Blackberry ad face."

Back in December, we heard Elle chieftess Robbie Myers, and creative director/hatchet man Joe Zee, were looking to oust fashion director Nina Garcia. Naturally, Elle spokespeeps refused comment, which, to us, confirmed our story, but behind the scenes they were denying things.

Cut to today: Elle is said to have "parted company" with Garcia, says WWD. Nobody likes a liar.

It was just last weekend (as in six days ago), we're told, that she filmed her Ugly Betty cameo along with Runway winner Christian Siriano.

Meanwhile, as Jossip also first reported, Myers and Zee were looking to book their own TV gigs at the expense of Garcia; as we predicted, that's taking place with reality show Fashionista.

So we're not entirely surprised to see Garcia make her exit, but the timing is suspect. Or is it? Elle's relationship with Project Runway, where Nina was a judge, is theoretically also in jeopardy now that the franchise is moving from Bravo to Lifetime. Let's hope this is everything Robbie Myers was hoping for …

News that Project Runway winner Christian Siriano would be making an Ugly Betty appearance was reported at least two weeks ago, but now ABC is confirming the rumor, and adding this twist: Judge and Elle fashion director Nina Garcia will also be appearing.

Which shouldn't be that surprising if you've been following our coverage of the meetings Elle EIC Robbie Myers and creative director Joe Zee have been taking.

CONTINUED »

Although Elle always had "no comment" for us when we asked them to confirm they were working on a TV project aside from Nina Garcia's involvement in Project Runway, it's clear they've finally found a skein to latch on to.

As we were the first to report in December, Elle EIC Robbie Myers and creative director Joe Zee were running around town meeting with various TV outfits, including Ugly Betty and America's Next Top Model.

Now it seems Myers' minions have sealed a deal with the latter, with Zee and Anne Slowey signing on to a Tyra Banks-Ken Mok-produced project for The CW that's billed as The Devil Wears Prada meets The Assistants. Rumor has it, the show will be called Fashionista, with the contestants all gunning for the grand prize of a gig at Elle.

Though Elle magazine had only "no comment" for us about whether EIC Robbie Myers and creative director Joe Zee were meeting with TV producers about various projects, we've learned they did sit down with Ugly Betty and America's Next Top Model, but meetings fizzled, at least temporarily, because of the writer's strike. (Even though reality show writers aren't union, apparently all of Hollywood is not functioning at the moment.) So far, there have just been "talks," which means any impact on fashion director Nina Garcia and her judging duties for Project Runway are a ways off.

Are the power-loving (but sometimes well-meaning) twosome running Elle looking to get rid of Nina Garcia? Yes, we're hearing. Is it likely EIC Roberta Myers and creative director Joe Zee will? Of course not.

Two words: Project Runway.

"It is no secret they would like to have Nina Garcia go away," says a source. "Unfortunately she is in TV show that has garnered the magazine many readers, advertising dollars, and also a lot of exposure for the fashion director they want out."

So what are they to do? Find their own TV experience! "They have been shopping around for a show to replace hers and let others know they ALSO exist."

Already they've reached out the produces of Ugly Betty to discuss cameo appearances for both of them. America's Next Top Model producers were also at Elle recently, interviewing staffers about casting a new reality show about the magazine, where contestants compete to become … a fashion assistant. Take that, Nina-compoop.

Last week, Owen Wilson tried to kill himself so this week Elle EIC Roberta Myers is responding by trying to "kill" the upcoming Q&A with Wilson in their December Hollywood issue.

"Obviously the circumstances have changed significantly," said Myers. "When we were to be on the newsstand with the story, it would have been quite dated. Obviously, he's not going to update it for us. Out of respect for his privacy and anything he is going through, we're not going to run the piece."

Also obvious? In light of Wilson's attempted suicide and his purported heroin addiction, Myers has concluded that now may not be the very best time to run a boring puff piece about his unique brand of slacker comedy (occasionally referred to as his ‘stoner insouciance!’) with an accompanying sidebar entitled "Owen's Christmas Wish List."

If you are a frequent reader of the Memo Pad column in Women's Wear Daily, read Jeff Bercovici's column very closely today. Because we just about lost it when we thought his story was about a bunch of big wig editors getting food poisoning at Michael's.

A bad batch of Cobb salad could have wiped out a good portion of the magazine industry's top talent Wednesday afternoon as Elle's Roberta Myers, Teen Vogue's Amy Astley, Men's Health's David Zinczenko, Blender's Craig Marks, O's Amy Gross, ESPN The Magazine's Gary Hoenig and Essence's Angela Burt-Murray convened at table one in Michael's restaurant.

As in, we thought the bad batch of Cobb salad really existed and the "could have" referred to the wipe-out. But, no. The article is just about some boring meetings Cindi Leive will be holding in honor of her fancy new ASME president title.

Which is so so much less exciting than a massive Michael's induced food poisoning.

Power Table [Jeff Bercovici, WWD]

Remember how much fun it was to elect people for student council back in high school? No? Well, let the ASME board of directors refresh your memory with its fabulous reenactment.

If they're going to pick a girl to be president, 9 times out of 10, they'll choose the homecoming queen. This year, fittingly, ASME appointed Cynthia Leive , the editor-in-chief of Glamour. VP is usually someone a bit nerdier. Like the guy who's in all the AP classes, but noboby ever really remembers his name. Enter Evan Smith, editor at Texas Monthly. You have no idea who he is.

The cute foreign exchange student with classy sex tips always makes a great Secretary (Roberta Myers, EIC of Elle) and of course you need a spot for the popular party boy for treasurer — and we're sure Adam Moss is great with money. Just look at those ad pages!

Lieve fills Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker's spot as president, and the new club will begin its reign over all the land just as soon as those much awaited popularity awards … er, Ellies … are announced. Assembly dismissed, everyone please return to homeroom.

Cindi Leive Named ASME President [Dylan Stableford, Fishbowl New York]

Guest editing is nothing new, of course. Sure, it's more a publicity stunt than an actual handing over of the reigns – do you think Carine Roitfeld really trusted Kate Moss with her precious December pages? – but we're always very surprised when high profile editors permit masthead mixers.

So, just to be sure, Elle's Roberta Myers letting professional wife Laurie David guest edit her May book is, indeed, a PR move. David will be producing the first "green" issue for the Hachette Filipacchi title, and this is going to amount to more than just forcing readers to flip through recycled pages. Turns out the entire issue is going to focus on environmental matters, even if it's gonna piss off folks like Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.).

The magazine is going green for its May issue, which will be guest edited by Laurie David, wife of Larry David and a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Copies will be printed on recycled paper - Aveda is underwriting part of the cost - and the focus will be on global health stories and beauty and fashion products that are safe for the environment.

…

Among the green material planned for May: Cameron Diaz is writing a piece, as is David, and tree-huggers Carolyn Murphy and Evangeline Lilly are being photographed for inside. Lilly is also expected to get the cover.

So let's do the math: Laurie David will be running her mouth. The publication won't be harmful to the environment. Big names will be attached even if they aren't credentialed talent. Huh — sounds like Huffington Post. Only shinier!

THE GREENING OF MAGAZINES [Sara James, WWD]