Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey Split

By: Shannon Gossage

The statement read, "After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways. This is a mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other. We hope that you respect our privacy." Reports of marital strife started dogging the couple last October. Of course Simpson and Lachey denied any and all reports of a rocky marriage, right up until Joe Simpson announced their separation.

The couple met in 1998 during a Hollywood Christmas Parade. Simpson was seen as the B-list Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera while Nick was still with boy band 98 Degrees, the B-list ’N Sync or Backstreet Boys. The couple began dating shortly after they met and broke up briefly in 2001. The decided to reunite after September 11 and Simpson said in an interview at the time, "Nick was patiently waiting for me to grow up a little." They were in engaged in February 2002 and were married in October of that same year.

The couple’s first years of marriage was chronicled for the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. The show turned the couple into overnight stars. During its three year run, the show garnered a huge gathering of fans and made a superstar out of Jessica who was known for her quirky "blonde" moments. Soon it seemed that Lachey lived in her shadow prompting rumor upon rumor that there was something amiss in their marriage. After a painful year of speculation it seems that they couldn’t survive the storm. Another one bites the dust.