Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson’s former partner, talks about getting emotional while filming their show

This recent revelation complements previous reflections Lachey made in 2024, where he spoke openly about the lasting emotional impact of his highly publicized marriage with Simpson.

In 1998, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey’s love story kicked off at the Hollywood Christmas Parade. They got engaged in 2002, married later that year, and sadly, called it quits in 2006.

As Lachey looked back on his “Newlyweds” days, he remembered the emotions that came with saying goodbye to more than just the cameras. The star revealed he broke down in tears on the last day of filming the MTV reality show that chronicled his early 2000s marriage to Simpson.  

After three seasons of having cameras follow their daily lives, it was not the spotlight or the fame that hit him hardest; it was saying goodbye to the crew, who had become like family. Lachey explained:

“I actually came to really love the crew. I remember crying the day we shut down because you develop relationships with them. They really became family.” 

During his interview on the “Richer Lives” podcast, he noted that he grew close to the production crew despite early instructions to avoid connecting with them. In his words:

“At first they said, ‘Don’t talk to the crew. They’re just a fly on the wall.’ But I told them, ‘That’s not how I work. You’re in my house every day — we’re going to talk.'”

Before opening up about the emotional moment he cried while wrapping “Newlyweds,” Lachey had already revisited the pain of his split from Simpson.

The Blast reported that last year, the 51-year-old reflected on his high-profile first marriage during season three of Netflix’s “The Ultimatum.”

Speaking to a contestant going through a rough patch, Lachey shared that he, too, had lived through a divorce and carried the emotional scars that came with it.

“I, too, was previously married, divorced. I understand the hurt, the scars that exist from that,” Lachey said, acknowledging the lasting impact of that chapter in his life. Still, he emphasized the importance of healing and growth, encouraging others not to let past pain dictate what comes next.

He credited his positive outlook and belief in second chances for leading him to his current marriage with Vanessa Lachey, whom he wed in 2011 and now shares a family with.

While Lachey moved on and married Vanessa, Simpson tied the knot with Eric Johnson in 2014. But by 2024, signs pointed to possible strain in their relationship.

The former NFL star was seen walking through Los Angeles without his wedding ring, a detail that quickly drew attention. Photos showed Johnson dressed casually but noticeably without the band he had worn for years.

Before then, some noticed Simpson had also stopped wearing her ring. The missing jewelry was first spotted in a promotional post, and again on Valentine’s Day, sparking speculation that something might be off behind the scenes.

Though the singer had largely moved on from the spotlight surrounding his past with Simpson, headlines found him again after a run-in with a paparazzo resulted in court-ordered anger management classes.

The Blast reported that the incident took place on March 27, 2022, outside a Beverly Hills restaurant. Lachey was leaving with his wife, Vanessa, when he became aggressive with photographer Jody Santos, who was snapping photos of the couple.

Santos filed a police report, and Lachey was later charged with assault and battery. While he avoided formal prosecution, he was required to attend anger management sessions and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Santos shared:

“He has to complete anger management and AA within a reasonable time, which is like a year or so. If he fails to do so, they will move forward to prosecute him with noncompliance, and he will get arrested.”