Jessica Simpson And Eric Johnson Inches From Divorce Showdown As Parenting Disagreements Abound

Amid an already strained marriage between Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson, a new disagreement is threatening to break their union completely.

The pair, who were married for ten years and share three children, Maxwell Drew, Birdie Mae, and Ace Knute, previously announced their separation as they worked through challenges in their marriage.

However, new reports now suggest that the two may be on the verge of filing for divorce. 

Though they began living apart in hopes of resolving their differences, the effort appears to be falling short. Instead, insiders say even more cracks are forming, and the couple is now "inching closer to a full-blown divorce."

A source told Daily Mail that the latest issue is that the couple are not seeing eye to eye on daughter Maxwell pursuing an acting career. While Simpson wants her eldest girl to walk in her footsteps, Johnson, on the other hand, doesn’t want a Hollywood career for his kids.

'He'd like them to concentrate on their studies and sports,” the source revealed, adding, “Max wants to do both. “She’s a good basketball player, and she loves to act.”

Adding to Max's desire to go into showbiz is the encouragement she receives from her teammate, North West, who has been exploring her creative side. According to reports, North put in a good word about Simpson to her mom, Kim Kardashian, helping her land a role on  “All’s Fair.”

The “Employee of the Month” star has already exposed her 13-year-old to the spotlight when she featured her in a playful Chicken of the Sea commercial on her reality TV series. That early taste of entertainment has only fueled the teen's desire to act.

The insider added that while the 45-year-old singer was initially eager to work things out, after spending a year on her own, she’s “beginning to like the feeling of freedom she now has.”

The latest revelations about the couple's relationship seem to shut down speculation that a reconciliation was underway. 

Talk of a reunion began in August when Simpson and the former NFL tight end were spotted boarding a commercial flight from Burbank to Las Vegas.

As The Blast reported, they sat next to each other and were believed to be flying in for the opening night of Ashlee Simpson's residency. When an onlooker remarked it was nice to see them together, Simpson flashed a seemingly hopeful smile.

While the trip sparked optimism, it may have simply been a cordial outing. Even while living separately, the pair has occasionally spent time together with their children. 

In April, The Blast reported that the estranged couple were photographed in Carlsbad, California, enjoying a family day out. 

Eyewitnesses recounted that while the kids appeared cheerful, Simpson and Johnson were noticeably distant, with their daughters, Maxwell and Birdie, and their son, Ace, positioned between them.

Their outing comes as the singer previously revealed that even with the rift, their kids were currently their top priority. 

Though neither Simpson nor Johnson has publicly revealed the cause of their separation, her lyrics to the track "Leave," released earlier this year, strongly implied infidelity played a role, per The Blast. 

In the emotionally charged song, she sings, "Your weakness made me lonely / Unholy matrimony / Did you do to her what you did to me? Was she on her knees? / She's everything but me."

Simpson further alluded to choosing freedom, "I want you to leave / I don't even wanna breathe the air you breathe / I am stronger on my own / So hold on / I'm letting you go."

The track is from her “Nashville Canyon” album, which Simpson described as a “soundtrack to my soul," with sources calling the project "raw and gritty."

With her marriage to Johnson seemingly nearing its end, Simpson has previously stated her interest in going back to dating, saying she's open to dating again, but not through apps. 

"It's a rough road out there in the dating world," she said in an interview back in August, as The Blast reported. "I mean, I'm not getting on the apps yet.” Instead, she prefers to be connected with her partner through a trusted friend.

However, for now, the former reality TV star is keeping things simple, relying on her close circle of friends as she deals with her ongoing marital problems.