We thought for a minute Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson could get past his betrayal and get back together… but now? Any hopes of a reconciliation may be out the window!
According to Dailymail.com on Thursday, the estranged couple were living apart in the hopes of eventually resolving their differences and reuniting. However, they’re getting closer and closer to filing for divorce a year later instead! Uh oh! A source revealed she is leaning more towards breaking up for good — partially because she enjoys her freedom! They explained:
“At first Jessica was eager to seek help and hopefully put their family back together. But now that she’s been on her own for over a year, she’s beginning to like the feeling of freedom she now has.”
Can you blame Jess? It sounds like she’s been having some fun as a single woman!
Related: Jessica Simpson Celebrates 8 Years Of Sobriety Amid Eric Johnson Divorce!
However, this is about more than liking her independence. The estranged couple also can’t get on the same page about a major parenting decision — whether to allow their 13-year-old daughter, Maxwell, to pursue an acting career! The insider explained:
“And while they have yet to work out the problems that caused the split, a new wrinkle has appeared, as their eldest daughter wants to pursue an acting career. And it’s one more thing they don’t agree on.”
Ooh! Who’s pro and who’s con?? Turns out Jessica is all for Maxwell getting into showbiz. The source continued:
“Maxwell is her mom’s mini-me and she’s the most like Jessica of all the kids. She idolizes her mother and is chomping at the bit to follow in her famous footsteps. Maxi, as her mom calls her, is super talented. She likes to sing, is very creative, and has been looking over her mom’s shoulder while she works on her clothing and jewelry designs. Now that she’s officially a teenager, Jess is willing to let her feet get wet when it comes to showbiz.”
Inneresting. Another nepo baby heading to Tinseltown? Not if Eric can help it! He wants all of their kids to focus on school and sports instead:
“Eric on the other hand feels a Hollywood career is not what he wants for his kids. He’d like them to concentrate on their studies and sports.”
But what does Maxwell want? The source said the teen “wants to do both” because “she’s a good basketball player, and she loves to act.” Her friend and teammate, North West, is apparently pushing her to pursue her goals:
“One of her teammates is Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s 12-year-old daughter, North West, who has been walking the red carpet with mom and dad for years, and most recently walked for Paris fashion week. And she’s encouraging her pal to take the plunge when it comes to acting.”
Wow! A pal of the girls added:
“Maxi and North play on the same basketball team coached by Max’s dad. And they are close pals. Recently North also went to bat for Max’s mom.”
Back in June, Rob Shuter wrote on his Naughty Bu Nice substack that an insider claimed North pleaded with her mom, Kim Kardashian, to get Jessica a part on All’s Fair — and it worked! The singer ended up playing the character LeAnn, whose husband got her bad botox. Yikes.
After Jessica Simpson played a botched plastic surgery patient in Ryan Murphy’s “All’s Fair,” she detailed how long her new-face-gone-wrong actually took to achieve. https://t.co/3Ektpz8qpA pic.twitter.com/sGPz6IkcRr
— E! News (@enews) November 6, 2025
And in return, the pal told DM that Jess helped her daughter get her first acting gig — a Chicken of the Sea tuna commercial, which was a nod to the reality star’s famous moment. The insider shared:
“Jess pitched a spot where she is eating Chicken of the Sea and asks her daughter if she’s confused about whether the stuff was tuna or chicken. And Max replies, ‘who would ever be confused by that?’ With Jess answering, ‘not your mother.’ It was a cute bit and Maxi’s TV debut.”
You can see that one (below):
Now, Maxwell reportedly has “been bitten by the acting bug.” But the teenager’s desire to become an actress is, unfortunately, driving a wedge between her parents. Oof. Any talks of a reconciliation may now fade, especially as Eric and Jess put their Hidden Hills mansion up for sale. A source said they even moved to separate homes in Nashville so she could work on music, adding:
“There are currently plenty of TV shows and movies being filmed in Nashville, so there will be lots of opportunities for both Jessica and Maxi.”
It sounds like Eric better get on board with Maxwell’s plans if he hopes to repair his marriage! What are your reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments.
[Image via MEGA/WENN, Jessica Simpson/Instagram]
