14 DAY TRIAL // Though they’ve only been dating since May this year, Jessica Simpson and NFL player Eric Johnson have taken their relationship a step further by becoming engaged late last week, TMZ’s Too Fab
can confirm.
Reports of a new engagement started to make the rounds within hours after Jessica’s ex, Nick Lachey, announced he’d become engaged to his longtime girlfriend and former BFF of Jess’, Vanessa Minnillo.
However, besides saying that she was “extremely, extremely happy” for her former husband, Jessica refused to offer either confirmation or denial of her reported engagement.
Her rep has confirmed for Too Fab that, indeed, she was engaged to Eric – and Jessica herself did the rest of confirming by appearing at an event yesterday wearing the ring she got from her man.
“Yes, we are excited to confirm that they are engaged,” a rep for the singer said by means of confirmation of the happy news. The publicist offered no additional details.
“Simpson has wasted little time showing off the dazzling ring Johnson gave her: She was spotted wearing the Neil Lane engagement ring in Kansas City Saturday at an event for her clothing line,” Too Fab writes, including a photo of Jessica with the sparkler on her finger.
Even if she repeatedly said in past interviews that she was beyond happy with Eric and that she “loved him,” rumors about his loyalty have never ceased to make the rounds.
The latest issue of Us Weekly, for instance, has it from very reliable but unnamed sources that, while Jess may be head over heels with Eric, the feeling is not mutual, since he’s only with her for exposure in the media and free publicity.
“Though Ashlee Simpson-Wentz recently told Us that her sister ‘is happy, so we’re all really happy,’ sources insist that most of Simpson’s friends are concerned about Johnson’s motives for dating the singer,” the mag writes.
“Eric was never that successful in the NFL, but he’s always wanted the celebrity lifestyle. Her friends do not trust him,” a source says for Us.