Nick Lachey reveals ‘strangely okay’ reunion with ex-wife Jessica Simpson after 20 years
The former couple reportedly had not seen each other in person for nearly 20 years
Singer and television host Nick Lachey has opened up about an unexpected reunion with ex-wife Jessica Simpson nearly two decades after their divorce, revealing the encounter was surprisingly comfortable and respectful.
Speaking during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Lachey confirmed recent reports that he and Simpson ended up on the same flight to Hawaii alongside their respective families.
“It was strangely okay,” Lachey said while reflecting on the unexpected six-and-a-half-hour encounter.
The former couple, who divorced in 2006 after four years of marriage, had reportedly not seen each other in person in nearly 20 years before the flight.
“You know it’s been 20 years,” Lachey explained, clarifying that while they were on the same plane, they were not seated together.
According to the singer, the atmosphere remained cordial throughout the trip, with both families maintaining mutual respect.
“Everyone was very, very cordial, very respectful,” he said, adding that Simpson was seated with her mother while other members of her family were elsewhere on the plane. “It was honestly fine,” he added.
Reports about the encounter first surfaced in April, when sources claimed Lachey, Simpson, and Vanessa Lachey shared a friendly conversation during the flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii.
Lachey and Simpson famously became one of pop culture’s most recognisable celebrity couples in the early 2000s through their MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, which documented their marriage and daily life together.
Following their separation, Lachey married Vanessa Lachey in 2011. The couple now shares three children and co-hosts several Netflix reality dating series, including Love Is Blind and Perfect Match.
Simpson, meanwhile, separated from former NFL player Eric Johnson in early 2025 after 10 years of marriage. The former couple shares three children together.
Despite their high-profile breakup, Simpson previously spoke positively about Lachey in her 2020 memoir Open Book, describing him as her “first love” and expressing continued respect for him and his family.
“We meant a lot to each other and we always will,” Simpson said at the time.