Ashlee Simpson doesn’t seem bothered by the divorce rumors surrounding her sister, Jessica Simpson, and her husband, Eric Johnson.
The 40-year-old “Pieces of Me” singer, who began her career as a backup dancer for her older sister, was asked about the rumors during a night out with her husband, Evan Ross.
“Is it true? Do you know?” TMZ asked the younger sibling on Nov. 11 as she was leaving the Mr Chow restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Ashlee Simpson kept her response short, sweet and to the point.
“No,” she said without breaking her stride.
TMZ clarified that it was unclear if she was saying “no” to the rumors being true, or “no” to not knowing the validity of the rumors.
The one-word response came just a few hours after Jessica Simpson posted yet another cryptic post on social media ahead of her return to music.
“Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic,” she wrote in the caption.
“This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.”
Many fans were quick to point out that the singer wasn’t wearing her wedding ring in any of the photos, which led to speculation that she and Johnson may have separated.
Fans have also speculated that her upcoming album could be a breakup album.
Nonetheless, the divorce rumors are nothing new for Simpson and Johnson.
The couple first sparked breakup rumors in February when Simpson posted photos of herself without her wedding ring, according to TMZ.
That speculation fizzled out when she shared photos of her family of five, including Johnson and their three children, Maxwell, Ace and Birdie, on a spring break vacation.
But that was the last time Johnson was featured in one of her social media posts, according to E! News.
The singer has shared several cryptic posts since, which has only added fuel to the rumors — highlighted by her most recent post about her comeback.
Fans were also concerned in September when she shared a photo dump from a recent “self-love” getaway.
“A weekend of much needed self love hugs and pure magnetism,” she wrote in the caption.
Simpson and Johnson started dating in May 2010, but it wasn’t confirmed until a few months later, when a source told People that they were, in fact, an item.
At the time, Johnson was still legally married to his first wife, stylist Keri Johnson, but the two had been separated for nearly a year prior to starting a relationship with Simpson.
They announced their engagement in Oct. 2010 and revealed they were expecting their first child, daughter Maxwell Drew, a year later.
They welcomed their first son, Ace Knute, in June 2013, tied the knot in July 2014, and had their third child, daughter Birdie Mae, in March 2019.
Prior to the recent breakup rumors, Simpson had always spoken highly of her marriage to Johnson.
“My life before him, I had a blast,” she said in an Aug. 2023 interview with People. “But once I met Eric, I feel like it was more nurtured. Everything was more supported. Everything felt so easy.”
“I knew the instant we met that I could see my future in his eyes and with a lot of people, I hope for a future in their eyes, but with Eric, I saw it,” she continued.
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