Jessica Simpson's Latest Outing Fuels Eric Johnson Divorce Rumors

Jessica Simpson reignited ongoing divorce speculation on Friday when she was spotted without her wedding ring during a casual movie outing with her two eldest children in Calabasas, California.

The outing follows reports suggesting Jessica Simpson is feeling “heartbroken” amid an alleged separation from her husband, Eric Johnson.

For the day out, the 44-year-old singer and actress donned an eye-catching orange coat with patterned details, paired with jeans and boots, per the photos obtained by Page Six. Her daughter, Maxwell, 12, walked alongside her, dressed in a gray sweatsuit and clutching a pair of headphones.

Following closely behind was her son, Ace, sporting a red hoodie and blue shorts. Noticeably absent was Simpson’s youngest daughter, 5-year-old Birdie Mae.

Speculation about trouble in Simpson’s marriage has been swirling for weeks.

On Thursday, Jessica Simpson took to Instagram to share two striking new portraits.

The Texas-born star appeared radiant in the photos, though her wedding rings were noticeably absent, fueling ongoing speculation about the state of her marriage to Eric Johnson. Captured by photographer Alex Berrger, the photos were part of a campaign promoting Simpson's holiday fashion collection from her highly successful eponymous fashion brand.

In the photo, Jessica Simpson raises her left hand, drawing attention to the absence of her wedding rings from Eric Johnson, a detail that adds to the growing speculation surrounding their marriage.

The "Dukes of Hazzard" star looked stunning in a sleeveless black halter-style evening gown as she elegantly posed on a staircase.

"Wishing you and yours the best this holiday season xo, Team JS," Simpson wrote in the caption.

According to Us Weekly, Simpson has been navigating an “incredibly difficult time” as she and Eric reportedly explore a separation. "It was not an easy decision," an insider revealed, adding that the pair are currently “living separately.” Another source shared that the two are “trying to figure out a separation without disrupting their kids’ lives as much as possible.”

While Simpson and Johnson are reportedly still “figuring things out,” their recent public appearances have added fuel to the speculation.

On the contrary, her younger sister, Ashlee Simpson, was asked about the divorce rumors last month. "Fans are speculating that Jessica might be going to get a divorce from her recent Instagram post. Do you know anything about it? Is that true?" she was asked, to which she simply told TMZ, "No."

In November, Johnson was also seen without his wedding ring, shortly after reports surfaced that the couple had stopped attending their children’s school events together.

The rumors gained further traction after Simpson teased a potential musical comeback on Instagram last month, sparking questions about whether her new music might address her personal struggles.

Simpson and Johnson, a retired NFL player, tied the knot in July 2014 after four years of dating. Together, they share three children: Maxwell, Ace, and Birdie Mae.

Before her relationship with Johnson, Simpson was married to Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2006, with their relationship famously documented on the reality show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica."

"I, too, was previously married, divorced," Nick told a contestant on season three of "The Ultimatum" of his previous relationship with Simpson. "So I understand the hurt, the scars that exist from that."

"Don’t let your past define your future," he shared. "What I truly always wanted in my life, which was to have a beautiful marriage and a beautiful family, if I hadn’t retained my belief in that, I wouldn’t have ever realized the beautiful life I have with this woman."

Simpson, who shares three children—Maxwell (12), Ace (11), and Birdie Mae (5)—with her husband Eric Johnson, recently seemed to throw some subtle shade at her ex-husband, Nick Lachey. During a 2023 interview with Bustle, she addressed fans who have revisited the couple's reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," and concluded that Nick was actually the show's main villain all along.

In response to the observation, Jessica simply remarked, "It's amazing what publicity can do."