JESSICA SIMPSON’s parents have secretly split, and now the singer-turned-fashion maven says their problems have soured her on marriage!
Tina and Joe Simpson – parents of new mom Jessica, 32, and singer/ actress Ashlee, 27 – have been struggling to maintain their 34-year union for a while, but sources say Tina is ready to throw in the towel.
“Tina got tired of Joe’s controlling ways, and she finally had the courage to stand up to him and say, ‘No more!’” revealed a family insider.
“She’s settled into a house in Malibu, while Joe has been splitting his time between the old family home in Encino and a place in Santa Barbara.”
Now Jessica, who gave birth to daughter Maxwell on May 1, is reconsidering tying the knot with former NFL player Eric Johnson, said the insider. They’ve been engaged since November 2010.
“Jessica was on cloud nine after Maxwell was born, and she was busily planning her wedding to Eric,” said the insider.
“But now she’s rethinking marriage altogether. She told Eric that she’s lost her faith in it. Ironically Joe’s meddling contributed to the bustup of Jess’ marriage to Nick Lachey and Ashlee’s marriage to Pete Wentz.”
As The ENQUIRER reported in April 2008, Joe and Tina started leading separate lives after their daughters’ fame drove a wedge between them.
“Joe and Tina NEVER got back on track,” said the insider. “Tina is all about business and managing her daughters’ careers, while Joe likes to kick back at the country club and play golf. Now he’s Jessica’s manager in name only, while her mom is heavily involved in helping Jessica run her $1 billion fashion empire.”
Meanwhile, Joe – who was busted for DUI on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles after reportedly being stopped with a .12 blood alcohol level – is against a formal separation or divorce, said another source. “It would have too big an effect on the family gravy train,” said the source. “But Tina is leaning toward making the separation official in the next few months.”