Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson are leading increasingly separate lives amid mounting rumors that their decade-long marriage is on the rocks.
The 44-year-old singer and actress stirred speculation on Monday after posting photos without her wedding rings and hinting that her upcoming musical comeback will explore ‘everything I did not deserve.’
An insider now reveals that the couple has been spending more time apart, often in different cities, while continuing to co-parent their three children: daughters Maxwell, 12, Birdie Mae, 5, and son Ace, 11.
‘She’s been working on new music, splitting her time between Los Angeles and Nashville,’ a source told People on Thursday, adding, ‘Eric stays in L.A. full-time, where the kids are in school. Jess and Eric very much live separate lives.’
Despite reports that those close to Simpson have reached out to divorce attorneys on her behalf, insiders tell DailyMail.com that Jessica is eager to avoid a split for their kids’ sake.
However, the couple reportedly agrees that without meaningful change, their marriage may be headed toward an end.
Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson are leading increasingly separate lives amid mounting rumors that their decade-long marriage is on the rocks; (pictured June 2024)
‘She’s been working on new music, splitting her time between Los Angeles and Nashville,’ a source told People on Thursday, adding, ‘Eric stays in L.A. full-time, where the kids are in school. Jess and Eric very much live separate lives.’; (pictured 2016)
‘Jessica’s goals are to stay married and fix the relationship as it has become stale,’ a source said.
‘Eric has been an incredible father. He has been there for her in her sobriety journey and has been able to deal with all her ups and downs. He has been her rock.’
The singer, who recently celebrated being alcohol-free for seven years, wed the ex NFL star, 45, in 2014. They share daughters Maxwell, 12, and five-year-old Birdie Mae, and son Ace, 11.
They are desperate to make things work for the sake of their children and are not looking to make any ‘rash decisions’ over the holiday period.
‘They have been going through a rough patch with each other,’ the insider continued. ‘But she wants it to work out for her kids and she still loves him, and he loves her.’
The source added: ‘They are both aware that things need to change if they are to make it work.
‘They are stuck in a lull period and are both trying to figure out what could spark things to bring it back and whether that is more counseling or something else. They don’t want to make any rash decisions over the holidays.’
A second source reiterated that Jessica, who is worth an estimated $200million, wants to avoid a ‘messy’ divorce, but claimed the actress feels under appreciated in the marriage and isn’t convinced it is salvagable.
Despite reports that those close to Simpson have reached out to divorce attorneys on her behalf, insiders tell DailyMail.com that Jessica is eager to avoid a split for their kids’ sake; (pictured in 2017)
The couple haven’t been spotted together since they attended their daughter Birdie’s graduation from kindergarten in June. They also share daughter Maxwell, 12, and son Ace, 11
‘Jessica says her marriage has been a roller coaster for years and she does take accountability for the parts where she knows she messed up,’ they said.
‘He stuck by her through her alcoholism. But that was then. Her recent glow up has given her a new outlook on life and she feels Eric doesn’t truly appreciate her.
‘She isn’t really present in the marriage, which is fractured, and she says that neither of them seems to care.’
They continued: ‘She is fearful of how messy their divorce could be. She has increased her net worth while married to Eric and he has played a large part in this.
‘He was there for her every step of the way, working alongside her for many of her ventures.’
It comes amid reports that ‘late last month’ someone close to Jessica went to an LA divorce attorney, said the star was ‘unhappy’ in her marriage and said they wanted to arrange a meeting with the attorney and the Dukes of Hazard star.
Jessica did not make direct contact with the lawyer.
A member of Jessica’s team also reportedly made contact with a different LA divorce lawyer – but there was no ‘follow-through.’
The singer’s most recent post on Instagram prompted desperate questions from fans who asked: ‘Are you talking about your husband?’
‘Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic,’she wrote.
‘This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.’
‘Ohhh someone is NOT PLAYING anymore, girls!!! Take notes!!’ wrote one fan.
Another said: ‘I’m so sorry you went through what you did.’
In the snapshots, she wore a black coat and platform boots from her eponymous fashion line.
There have also been reports that the two are not even living together in their Hidden Hills, California mansion.
A source previously told Life & Style: ‘Eric has had it with her crazy mood swings. And Jessica feels like their marriage has lost its romance. Everyone’s wondering how long they can go on like this…
‘Eric has been doing his own thing for longer than anyone seems to know. He’s been very vocal about how difficult it is to live with someone so obsessed with surgery and so detached from reality most of the time.’
‘They have been going through a rough patch with each other,’ the insider said. ‘But she wants it to work out for her kids and she still loves him, and he loves her’
They were last pictured in June when they attended their daughter Birdie’s graduation from kindergarten.
He hasn’t appeared on her social media since April.
‘Eric has been doing his own thing for longer than anyone seems to know,’ Life & Style reported.
‘He’s been very vocal about how difficult it is to live with someone so obsessed with surgery and so detached from reality most of the time.’
