Jessica Simpson & Husband Eric Johnson Split After 10 Years of Marriage – Jessica Speaks Out

The "Open Book" author and retired tight end, who first met through a mutual friend in 2010, tied the knot in July 2014 in Montecito, California.

Fans have expressed shock and sadness over the news of Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson's split after 10 years of marriage. Many have also shared heartfelt messages to the couple who share three kids.

Simpson disclosed in a statement the state of her and Johnson's marriage, "Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage. Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them."

The actress and Johnson dated for four years after meeting through a mutual friend in 2010. They got engaged in November 2010, but their wedding plans were delayed twice. During this period, Simpson gave birth to her first child, a daughter. Maxwell Drew Johnson was born on May 1, 2012.

On June 30, 2013, the 44-year-old and Johnson had their second child, a son, Ace Knute Johnson. They noted that his middle name honored the ex-NFL player's Swedish grandfather.

The two eventually tied the knot in July 2014 at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. They were so happy to exchange vows in the presence of their family, friends, and kids. Ace was a ring-bearer at the ceremony while Maxwell took on the role of a flower girl.

Close to five years after their wedding, Jessica Simpson and Johnson added another daughter to their family. Birdie Mae Johnson was born on May 19, 2019.

Now, Simpson has announced the separation from her husband after she was spotted without her wedding band on two occasions. The first time was in November 2024, and the second a month later in December, when she was going for a movie outing with her two eldest kids.

Hence, her recent statement has confirmed information from a source, who noted last year that the singer and Johnson "very much live separate lives." The news that this marriage is ending has hit some of the pair's fans hard.

One fan wrote, "So sad you fought so hard." Another person expressed deep sorrow over the end of their relationship, "This broke my heart!" One fan shared sympathy for the couple's children, "Poor kids," while another commented, "That is shocking, they have been together for a long time."

Some fans seemed to have had a different perspective, with one stating, "No I always thought they seem like such a great couple," while another pointed out, "She tried. I saw this coming years back. They were mismatch [sic]."

In a more emotional comment, one fan said, "So sad for her. I just finished her book she talked about her love for him 😢."

Simpson's statement also acknowledged the messages she has gotten from fans, "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."

The singer's last post featuring Johnson highlighted the playful chaos of family life. The pair posed with their kids at a dinner table, smiles all around as they gathered around a cake. While Johnson, Ace, Maxwell, and Simpson beamed with joy, Birdie could be seen crying. Simpson captioned the photo, "Can't win them all 😜."

In 2022, Simpson reflected on their deep bond, acknowledging their growing love. She teased that she had lost count of anniversaries and other monumental moments in their marriage, adding, "I feel like every moment with us, we're growing as long as we're communicating, and our love is only deepening."

She noted that they constantly learn from each other, resulting in their bond feeling stronger than when they first met. Now, the two have drawn apart and are leading separate lives. Eric Johnson was the actress's second husband, as she was previously married to Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2005.

A post from the singer late last year shows she is now focusing on her music. She shared a picture relaxing in her Nashville music room after an interview, revealing she had just discovered "singular magic." Simpson added, "This comeback is personal, it's an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve 🎶 🎼 🤍🖤."

Fans focused on her appearance in her latest pictures more than her announcement of new music, with many saying they didn't recognize her.

She posed in a recording studio in one of these pictures, her blonde hair flowing freely, accentuated by a smokey eye and natural lip makeup. She leaned back in her seat, wearing a black blazer paired with a white silk skirt and top.

The singer also sported a fishnet bodysuit under her ensemble, completing the look with heeled cowboy boots. She captioned the post, "I can't wait for y'all to hear the soundtrack of my soul."

Fans reacted to this picture by being vocal about her transformed appearance. One who couldn't believe their eyes wondered, "What has she done to herself? This doesn't even look like her." Another follower expressed, "Woah. You don't look like jessica [sic]."

Others were left trying to identify the person in the photo."But, who is this, even? It doesn't even look like Jessica Simpson," said one person. Another concurred, "I don't even recognize this person." A fan was direct, writing, "Does not look like her."

A commenter shared in this confusion, "Looks nothing like her!! But, why do this to yourself?🤔" Some even questioned specific features, "Where is her nose?" Another fan speculated about her recent changes, "Nose was done recently, it appears."

An emotional fan admitted, "Nooo [sic]. I don't recognize you😢" as they grappled with the transformation. A concerned supporter shared, "Oh Jessica. What has happened? Please don't lose any more weight. You're perfect as you are."

Reflecting on her previous appearance, one fan reminisced, "It's such a shame because she was just precious looking before and now she just looks like a shell of her former self. I think she's actually been through way more pain than anyone knows about."

One fan compared her to a toy, "She looks like a disheveled barbie [sic] doll." A Facebooker bluntly stated, "Unfortunately she ruined her face with plastic surgery!"

On the topic of her eyes, one commenter pointed out, "Her eyes give it away, they're sunken and aren't bright anymore." Another user echoed, "Her eyes look weird." A fan speculated on some procedures that may have altered her appearance, "OZEMPIC and Botox and bad lip fillers."

One fan expressed disappointment, "She used to be so beautiful! Her face looks so gaunt & overly plastic." Some fans believed aging was a factor, as one wrote, "She got older, that's why she looks different. You can't expect a woman to look like a teenager forever."

Finally, a fan found some beauty in the transformation, adding, "She looks so different from original JS but still beautiful."

When Simpson rose to fame in the 2000s, she was often scrutinized, with her physical appearance becoming a subject of frequent commentary. Even after becoming a mother, the focus on her physique remained. Her children would often wonder why so much attention was placed on her looks.

Despite this, she encourages them to ignore external opinions and focus on how they feel about themselves. Simpson is careful not to complain about weight or calories in front of her kids, aiming to set an example by living a healthy lifestyle.

While she doesn't aspire to be a role model for the world, she prioritizes being one for her children.

The singer has emphasized that the focus should shift from weight to mental well-being, noting that conversations about weight need not be a constant topic.

Despite the ongoing discussions about her body over the years, Simpson has turned these changes into an asset. Through The Jessica Simpson Collection, she relates to many women by understanding the experience of navigating different body sizes.