Nearly two decades after their headline-making split, Nick Lachey is opening up about unexpectedly reconnecting with ex-wife Jessica Simpson during a recent trip to Hawaii. And while this sounds romantic, it was completely unexpected and not an escapade.
The surprising encounter happened aboard a flight from Los Angeles, where the former couple reportedly crossed paths for the first time in nearly 20 years. While appearing on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Lachey confirmed the rumors and shared new details about the shocking moment.
Host Andy Cohen asked the singer directly whether the reunion actually happened. Lachey admitted it did, calling the situation unexpectedly comfortable. “You know it’s been 20 years since… and so we haven’t seen each other in those 20 years and then spent six and a half hours on a flight to Hawaii together,” Lachey said.
He quickly clarified what he meant by “spent together,” joking that they were simply in the “same vicinity” during the flight. “Everyone was very, very cordial, very respectful,” he continued. “It was honestly fine.”
According to Lachey, his family was also traveling with him at the time. Simpson was reportedly seated next to her mother, while her estranged husband, Eric Johnson, and their children were seated elsewhere on the plane.
© Charley GallayA source told People that the former spouses shared a friendly conversation during the trip. “They all had a nice conversation. Nick, Jessica, and [Nick’s wife] Vanessa,” the insider said. “It was very amicable and cordial.”
Lachey and Simpson were one of pop culture’s most recognizable celebrity couples in the early 2000s. The pair married in 2002 and became reality TV sensations through “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,” which documented their marriage and daily life. Their relationship eventually ended in divorce in 2006 after four years of marriage.
© Alex WongLachey married Vanessa Lachey in 2011, and the couple now shares three children: Camden, Phoenix, and Brooklyn. Professionally, the pair have become familiar faces on Netflix, hosting hit dating shows including “Love Is Blind” and “Perfect Match.”
Simpson, meanwhile, announced her separation from Johnson in January 2025 after 10 years of marriage. The former couple shares three children together: Maxwell, Ace, and Birdie.
Although their romance ended years ago, Simpson previously made it clear that she still holds respect for Lachey. In her 2020 memoir Open Book, the singer reflected candidly on their relationship, describing him as her “first love.”
© Steve Kondiles/Bauer-Griffin“We meant a lot to each other and we always will,” Simpson told People at the time. “I want to be very respectful because I married him for a reason and we were together for seven years for a reason. He has a family now and I would never say anything to disrespect that.”
Affected by the Divorce
In 2024, Nick Lachey shared about the emotional toll of his highly publicized divorce from Jessica Simpson. According to the singer and TV host, the split left him with lasting “scars.”
The 51-year-old TV personality opened up about the challenges of moving forward from his 2006 divorce on Season 3 of “The Ultimatum,” which premiered on Netflix.
© Jason Howard/Bauer-GriffinWhile speaking with a contestant, Lachey drew from his own experience. “I, too, was previously married, divorced, so I understand the hurt, the scars that exist from that,” Nick shared, according to E! News.
He explained that despite the pain of his first marriage ending, he chose to remain optimistic about love. “Don’t let your past define your future,” he advised. “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.”
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