rumors have been circulating for months, and on January 13, 2025, Jessica Simpson confirmed suspicions surrounding her marriage to Eric Johnson. After several public signs indicating trouble in their relationship, including missing wedding rings, a lack of social media posts celebrating their milestones, and growing distance between two, Simpson finally acknowledged that she and Johnson had been “living separately” and were navigating a painful situation in their marriage. As one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, their split has garnered widespread attention, with sources close to Simpson revealing reasons behind breakdown of their relationship.
| Category | Details |
|---|
| Full Name | Jessica Ann Simpson |
| Date of Birth | July 10, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Abilene, Texas, United States |
| Age | 44 years old (as of January 2025) |
| Occupation | Singer, Actress, Entrepreneur |
| Known For | Pop music career, Reality TV (e.g., Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica), Fashion brand (Jessica Simpson Collection) |
| Spouse | Eric Johnson (married in 2014, currently separated in 2025) |
| Children | Maxwell Drew Johnson (born 2012), Ace Knute Johnson (born 2013), Birdie Mae Johnson (born 2019) |
| Career Beginnings | First gained fame with her debut album Sweet Kisses (1999) and hit singles like “I Wanna Love You Forever” |
| Business Ventures | Founder of the Jessica Simpson Collection, a billion-dollar fashion brand |
| Notable Achievements | Multiple platinum-selling albums, successful business ventures, bestselling memoir Open Book |
| Social Media Presence | Active on Instagram and other platforms, frequently posts about her personal life and business updates |
| Philanthropy | Active in various charitable endeavors, particularly in the fields of children’s health and education |
Simpson, 44, and Johnson, 45, share three children — Maxwell, 12, Ace, 11, and Birdie, 5 — and have been married since 2014. However, despite what appeared to be a picture-perfect marriage, their relationship hit rough waters over past year, and their decision to separate was ultimately made after much contemplation and emotional turmoil.
Breakdown of Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson’s Marriage
For months, there were subtle signs that things weren’t quite right between couple. Both Simpson and Johnson were spotted in public without their wedding rings on multiple occasions. In August 2024, they failed to acknowledge their 10th wedding anniversary on social media, which raised eyebrows among fans and insiders alike. Similarly, Johnson’s 45th birthday in September 2024 went uncelebrated by Simpson on her social media accounts, a stark contrast to previous years when couple would share public declarations of love and affection.
Moreover, Johnson’s absence from a family back-to-school photo posted by Simpson in September 2024 only added to speculation. couple’s public appearances together became less frequent, leading many to question whether their relationship was still intact. moment of truth came on January 13, 2025, when Jessica Simpson finally spoke out about their separation. She confirmed that she and Johnson had been living separately for over a year before publicly addressing their struggles.
A source close to couple revealed to Us Weekly that their marriage had been facing significant issues for some time. Reports surfaced in November 2024 about Johnson allegedly flirting with other women, which seemed to be final straw for Simpson. “There were trust issues caused by breakdown of their marriage,” source explained. “She’s sad [about split] but knows she had to make a tough decision.”
A Fast-Rising Love Story
Simpson and Johnson’s relationship began with a whirlwind romance. couple met in 2010 at a party, shortly after Johnson had separated from his first wife. At time, Simpson had just ended her turbulent on-again, off-again relationship with musician John Mayer, after having divorced her first husband, Nick Lachey, in 2005. Simpson and Johnson quickly connected, and their bond seemed immediate and deep. “We connected on all levels,” Simpson wrote in her 2020 memoir, Open Book. “We both were ready for real deal.”
couple’s relationship flourished as they navigated life together. They soon became parents to three children and appeared to have a solid foundation. Simpson often expressed her admiration for Johnson, both as a partner and as a father. In Open Book, she called him “most incredible father on planet,” and described him as her “sexual shaman” during promotion of her memoir. They became known for their loving and supportive partnership, with Johnson standing by Simpson’s side during her recovery from alcohol addiction in 2017. Both Simpson and Johnson made decision to get sober at same time, which Simpson credits with strengthening their marriage. “Sobriety made marriage better,” a source close to Simpson said. “They both became more present when they got sober.”
Growing Apart
Despite strong foundation and early years of happiness, couple’s relationship began to face increasing tension. In April 2022, Simpson said their marriage was “stronger than ever,” adding, “I feel like every moment with us, we’re growing as long as we’re communicating, and our love is only deepening.” Yet, only a year later, signs of trouble began to surface. In March 2023, Simpson posted a PDA-filled photo with Johnson during a couples’ getaway, but by September of that year, couple’s public appearances together came to a halt.
According to sources, one of major turning points in their relationship occurred when Johnson was reportedly seen flirting with other women at a bar. “Jessica is not [type of] woman to put up with anything,” a source revealed. “She’s independent, and she has her own mind and money and her family’s support.” flirting rumors added to an already strained relationship, leading Simpson to question trust that had once existed between her and Johnson.
Another source pointed to career differences as another contributing factor to couple’s split. Simpson, a pop star turned entrepreneur, has built a fashion empire with her brand, which is now worth an impressive $1 billion. Johnson, a former NFL player, retired from football after his final season with New Orleans Saints in 2007, and has struggled to find his career footing since. While Simpson was generous in supporting Johnson’s endeavors, source noted that they had different goals when it came to their professional lives. “Jessica has been incredibly generous with Eric,” source said. “She’s never had any resentment because she looks at them as a family. Anything that has been earned has been for her family, and they all contribute in different ways. He’s tried to find his place career-wise, and she has always supported that.”
Counseling and Final Decisions
Despite their efforts to work through their issues, including attending counseling, Simpson and Johnson were ultimately unable to resolve their differences. “They’d done counseling before, but it didn’t get them anywhere, and Jessica wasn’t interested in doing it again,” a fifth source shared. “They’ve had enough of back-and-forth and ups and downs. They want different things.”
By November 2024, Simpson had made decision to pursue a divorce. She had been spending a significant amount of time in Nashville, where she was recording her upcoming album. In a post on November 11, 2024, Simpson shared a photo of herself in her Nashville music room, revealing that her upcoming project would be “personal.” She added, “It’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.” This statement marked a turning point for Simpson, who had been grappling with emotional weight of her relationship with Johnson.
Simpson’s sources reveal that she had been spending much of 2024 dividing her time between Nashville and Los Angeles, slowly separating her life from Johnson’s and figuring out what would come next.
What’s Next for Jessica Simpson?
Looking ahead, Simpson is focused on her own growth and well-being. While divorce proceedings are ongoing, it’s reported that Simpson has a prenup in place, but split could still become messy. Despite this, she is determined not to focus on what Johnson is doing. “She’s doing her own thing too,” one source explained. Simpson is not only focusing on her music career but also working on another book and staying dedicated to her sobriety and health. She has been working hard to get into shape and has shared her enthusiasm for maintaining her physical well-being, often posting about how much she loves her body.
Simpson has leaned on her family for support throughout this difficult time, especially her sister Ashlee Simpson, who is 40. “Jessica’s family just wants her to feel safe, secure and happy,” a source said. “They support whatever decisions she makes to keep her and kids in a stable place.”
As for family’s living situation, couple’s sprawling Hidden Hills home, which they purchased in 2013, was listed for sale on January 11, 2025, for $17.9 million. According to sources, Simpson wants to sell house because it holds too many memories. She is ready for a fresh start and is determined to move on from past.
Disclaimer: information provided in this article is based on public reports, exclusive sources, and statements from individuals close to Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of content, details may change over time as new information becomes available.
