The Real Reason Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey Divorced
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were the “It Couple” of the late ’90s and early 2000s. However, after tying the knot and starring in a hit reality TV show, the “I Wanna Love You Forever” songstress and 98 Degrees lead singer announced their separation in 2005 and their divorce was finalized the following year.
The two moved on with other partners and started families, but their names are in the headlines together again as they had what’s being called an “awkward run-in” on a flight to Hawaii.
Here’s more on that, plus the real reason Simpson and Lachey divorced and it may not be why you think.
Lachey and Simpson’s recent run-in on Hawaii-bound plane
TMZ noted that Simpson and Lachey flew on the same flight from Los Angeles to Kauai, Hawaii, on March 29. The stars were both seated in first class. The Love Is Blind host was reportedly visibly uncomfortable and “turned bright red” when he spotted Simpson in such close proximity.
Simpson wasn’t thrilled to see her former hubby either, and sources said that she decided to switch seats with someone in her group to be further away from Lachey.
“We’re told the exes went out of their way to avoid each other the entire time,” the outlet reported.
Lachey’s wife, Vanessa, was on the flight as well.
Why Simpson and Lachey divorced
There’s been chatter for years that Lachey left Simpson for Vanessa, but those rumors aren’t accurate. In fact, the 98 Degrees frontman didn’t even start dating the future Mrs. Lachey until 2006, after his marriage to The Dukes of Hazzard actress had already ended.
Lachey and Simpson started dating in 1999 and walked down the aisle in 2002. Three years later, they announced their separation and Simpson filed for divorce in December 2005, citing irreconcilable differences. The reason the two ended things had to do with intense media scrutiny and the pressures of starring in their reality show, Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica.
“We were young and pioneering our way through reality television, always miced and always on,” Simpson wrote in her memoir Open Book. “We worked and we were great at it but when it came time to being alone, we weren’t great at it anymore. We really got crushed by the media and by ourselves. I couldn’t lie to our fans and I couldn’t give somebody hope that we were this perfect golden couple.”
Following their split, Lachey began seeing Vanessa, and they said “I do” in 2011. They have since welcomed three children: Camden, Brooklyn, and Phoenix.
As for Simpson, she wed former NFL tight end Eric Johnson in 2014. They announced in early 2025 that they had been living separately and are going through a “painful separation.” They share three kids: Maxwell, Ace, and Birdie.
The fashion designer is currently dating Nashville-based recording artist Thomas Eisenhood.
