Jessica Simpson and estranged husband Eric Johnson appear to be on civil terms amid their split, as the two were recently spotted out together with their kids.
The “Irresistible” singer, 44, was seen spending time with the former football player, 45, in Carlsbad, California, on Monday, March 31, according to photos published by TMZ on Monday, April 7. Jessica and Eric were with a couple who appeared to be the former tight end’s parents, as well as their three kids, daughters Maxwell “Maxi” Drew, 12, and Birdie Mae, 6, and son Ace Knute, 11.
Eyewitnesses told the outlet that the estranged couple seemingly kept their distance from each other during the outing, with their kids staying in between them. The sources shared that the kids appeared to be in good spirits, but Jessica wasn’t smiling in the photos.
Jessica announced her separation from Eric after 10 years of marriage on January 13.
“Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage,” she told People at the time. “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.”
The following month, Jessica shared an update on the status of their relationship with the outlet.
“At least I have my children and I still have Eric. He’s still very much a part of my life and will always be,” she said, adding, “I’ve grown up so much. I can handle so much. Maybe I’m just meant to love a lot of people in my life.”
The Dukes of Hazzard alum also said that she doesn’t know why her “heart gets tossed around,” but she sees herself as “one of the lucky ones.”
Fans of Jessica suspected a split in November 2024 when the actress shared a cryptic caption with an Instagram post. “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.”
A source previously exclusively told Life & Style in September 2024 that Jessica and Eric’s marriage was “hanging on by a thread.”
“They’ve drifted apart and come closer together many times over,” the insider said. “There have been a lot of ups and downs that they’ve worked through privately.”
While Jessica hasn’t shared what led to her separation from Eric, fans speculated that she was hinting at a cheating scandal in her new single last month, “Leave.” She sings on the track, “What we had was magic/ Now you made it tragic/ Giving her what you gave to me/ Now the well that you drink from’s empty/ Your weakness made me lonely/ Unholy matrimony/ Did you do to her what you did to me? Was she on her knees?”
No matter the reason for the split, Jessica’s sister, Ashlee Simpson, has assured that the “Blame Me” songstress is doing fine, telling Us Weekly on February 6 that she’s in the “best spirits.”
“I just did an interview with her today. She has music coming, and it was so exciting. And I’m so proud of her,” Ashlee, 40, said. “We are strong little ladies, and, you know, I think that’s a cool thing about life is just always growing and finding yourself, wherever that’s supposed to be.”
