Jessica Simpson’s love life has taken another turn, as she announced her separation from her second husband Eric Johnson on Monday.
The 44-year-old superstar revealed that she and the 45-year-old former NFL player ‘have been living separately’ while they navigate ‘a painful situation in our marriage.’
‘Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family,’ she said in the statement.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2014 after four years of dating, shares three children: daughter Maxwell, 12, son Ace, 11, and daughter Birdie, 5.
This split adds another chapter to Simpson’s high-profile love life, which includes her first marriage to Nick Lachey, a secret relationship with Johnny Knoxville, and the famous comment from a singer who described her as ‘sexual napalm’ in the bedroom.
DailyMail.com has compiled a complete history of Jessica’s dating life, chronicling her romantic ups and downs through the years, below.
Jessica Simpson ’s love life has taken another turn, as she announced her separation from her second husband Eric Johnson on Monday
Jessica and Nick Lachey got married in 2002 after a whirlwind romance and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples; (seen in 2005)
Nick Lachey
Jessica and Nick Lachey got married in 2002 after a whirlwind romance and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples.
Their relationship was documented in the reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, which ran from 2003 to 2005, giving fans a peek into their lives.
But the pressure of public scrutiny and their different career paths eventually took a toll, leading to their divorce in 2006 after four years of marriage.
In her 2020 memoir Open Book, she shared that her relationship with Nick was deeply impactful, but also complicated by her own insecurities and the intense public pressure they faced.
She admitted that she was ‘too young’ and not fully prepared for the weight of the public’s expectations.
In his 2006 interview with People after their divorce, Nick admitted that their split was ‘incredibly painful,’ and although they tried to make it work, they ultimately grew apart.
Johnny Knoxville
During her marriage struggles with Nick, Jessica was busy filming the 2005 remake of Dukes of Hazzard.
While she and her co-star Johnny Knoxville never had a romantic relationship (as both were married at the time), Simpson revealed in her memoir Open Book that she had an ’emotional affair’ with Knoxville.
In the book, she shared, ‘I could share my deepest authentic thoughts with him, and he didn’t roll his eyes at me.
While she and her co-star Johnny Knoxville never had a romantic relationship (as both were married at the time), Simpson revealed in her memoir Open Book that she had an ’emotional affair’ with Knoxville
‘He actually liked that I was smart and embraced my vulnerabilities,’ adding, ‘He believed in me and made me feel I could do anything.’
Simpson wrote about the undeniable connection she felt with Knoxville, who was married to his first wife, Melanie Lynn Clapp, at the time: ‘I felt a force drawing us together.’
She explained that for her, an emotional affair was more painful than a physical one, saying, ‘It’s funny, I know, because I had placed such an emphasis on sex by not having it before marriage. After I actually had sex, I understood that the emotional part was what mattered. And Johnny and I had that.’
She went on to reveal that they exchanged ‘love letters,’ describing their bond as ‘like Johnny and I were prison pen pals, two people who wanted too much to be with each other but were kept apart — by bars, by our stars, by our respective spouses.’
As of now, Knoxville has not publicly commented on Simpson’s revelations in her book.
John Mayer
Jessica was swept off her feet by singer John Mayer in 2006, sparking a passionate but turbulent romance.
Jessica was swept off her feet by singer John Mayer in 2006, sparking a passionate but turbulent romance
The pair’s connection was intense, and Mayer famously referred to Simpson as ‘sexual napalm’ in a now-infamous 2010 Playboy interview, where he also described her as ‘like crack cocaine to me.’
Despite their undeniable chemistry, Simpson revealed in her 2020 memoir Open Book that their relationship was far from easy.
They broke up nearly nine times, she claimed.
‘We were great at intimacy,’ Simpson shared. ‘We were great at loving each other. That was easy, but the relationship was very complex.’
She added: ‘John loved me when I was shining and he drew inspiration from that light. When he tapped me dry, he looked at me like I was withholding something from him.’
Tony Roma
In November 2007, Simpson took a break from dating musicians and began seeing NFL star Tony Romo
In November 2007, Simpson began seeing NFL star Tony Romo.
However, their relationship quickly became a hot topic, with Simpson facing criticism over Romo’s on-field performance.
The couple’s split came just a day before her 29th birthday in 2009.
In her memoir, Simpson later revealed that John Mayer played a role in the breakup.
She claimed her lingering communication with her ex had a ‘hold’ on her.
It ultimately strained her relationship with the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback.
Adam Levine
There were rumors in 2004 that Simpson cheated on Nick Lachey with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, though those claims have never been confirmed; (seen in 2024)
There were rumors in 2004 that Simpson cheated on Nick Lachey with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, though those claims have never been confirmed.
However, in January 2006, after her divorce, Simpson was spotted leaving the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, reportedly after spending the night at Levine’s house.
She was reportedly seen wearing his T-shirt, fueling speculation about a hookup.
Billy Corgan
Jessica crossed paths with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan in 2010 when he wrote the song for her reality TV show The Price of Beauty; (seen in 2009)
Jessica crossed paths with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan in 2010 when he wrote the song for her reality TV show The Price of Beauty.
The pair quickly developed a close friendship that led to speculation about a romantic connection, with sources hinting at a possible fling.
However, neither Simpson nor Corgan ever confirmed the rumors, leaving fans to wonder about the true nature of their relationship.
When asked about the reports, Corgan was cryptic, telling Entertainment Tonight, ‘The stuff that I’ve seen doesn’t have any bearing to the reality that I’m in. It’s like being in a cartoon. It has nothing to do with what’s really going on or how I feel.’
Despite his vague response, the rumors lingered, adding another layer of intrigue to Simpson’s already headline-making love life.
Eric Johnson
In December, she was spotted without her wedding ring, and the couple hasn’t been seen together since their daughter Birdie’s kindergarten graduation on June 7; (seen in 2023)
Jessica and Eric’s relationship had been facing tension before their recent split.
In December, she was spotted without her wedding ring, and the couple hasn’t been seen together since their daughter Birdie’s kindergarten graduation on June 7.
Additionally, Jessica’s Instagram has been notably ‘Eric-free’ since their Easter celebration on April 9.
Jessica herself seemed to fuel speculation with a cryptic post on November 11 that hinted at someone close to her.
‘Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic,’ she wrote in the caption, adding, ‘This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.’
The statement quickly caught the attention of her followers, sparking speculation over who might have caused her to endure ‘everything I did not deserve.’
