🔥 Nick Lachey Opens Up About His In-Flight Run-In with Jessica Simpson 20 Years After Their Divorce

Nick Lachey is opening up about an unexpected encounter with his ex-wife Jessica Simpson nearly two decades after their divorce. The singer confirmed rumors of the meeting during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

When asked by Cohen about the reported interaction, Lachey confirmed that he and Simpson had indeed crossed paths on a flight to Hawaii. “It was strangely okay,” Lachey said, reflecting on the surprising situation. He continued, “You know, it’s been 20 years since… 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 clarified that while they were on the same flight, they were not seated together but rather in the “same vicinity.” He described the encounter as “cordial” and “respectful,” adding that his family was also present on the flight. Simpson was seated next to her mother, while her partner and children were elsewhere on the plane. “It was honestly fine,” he concluded.

This encounter had been previously reported by PEOPLE in April, with a source stating that the former couple had a “nice conversation” during the flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii. The conversation was described as amicable, with both Lachey and Simpson interacting in a friendly manner, alongside Lachey’s wife, Vanessa.

Simpson and Lachey were married from 2002 to 2006 and became famous for their reality TV show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. Despite their split, the two have maintained mutual respect over the years. In her 2020 memoir Open Book, Simpson reflected on her relationship with Lachey, describing him as her “first love” and expressing respect for him despite their divorce. “We meant a lot to each other and we always will,” she wrote, adding that she would never do anything to disrespect his family.

Lachey later married Vanessa Lachey in 2011, and the couple has three children: Camden, 13, Phoenix, 9, and Brooklyn, 11. Simpson, who recently announced her separation from former NFL player Eric Johnson in January 2025 after 10 years of marriage, has three children as well: Maxwell, 13, Birdie, 7, and Ace, 12.

Lachey and his wife Vanessa now host several Netflix dating shows, including Love Is Blind and Perfect Match.