Where does the time go? MTV's iconic reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica is somehow already 20 years old, and we can't believe it. The hugely popular series starring Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey began airing in August 2003, and finished in March 2005 after three successful seasons.
Famous moments from the show which documented Nick and Jessica's married life — viral before that was a widespread thing on the internet — included Jessica's 'chicken or fish' quandary, her confusion about gas and the color of German sausages, and her biblically justified fear of whales.
However, sadly for the amusing and often endearing union, when Nick and Jessica said 'I love you' it turned out it wouldn't last forever. Following the finale of the show's third season, the now 43-year-old 'Sweet Kisses' singer filed for divorce from the former boy bander in December 2005, bringing the hugely popular phenomenon to an abrupt end.
The pair's divorce was finalized in 2006 after Jessica cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split. But in the years following, the famous duo have continued to talk about their relationship in interviews since.
In 2009, the author of bestselling memoir Open Book, who is now married with three kids to Eric Johnson revealed to Vanity Fair that she didn't blame the show itself and the increased attention which it brought for the breakdown of their relationship. "In all honesty, I believe it did not affect our marriage," she told the outlet.
She also added sweetly: "We enjoyed watching those episodes, and that will always be a time I cherish. It made me understand what marriage is, what love is, what commitment is."
In a 2015 interview with Elle magazine, Nick gave his own feelings on the show. The Charmed actor, who is now married to Love is Blind and NCIS: Hawai'i star Vanessa Lachey, said he was "honored" that Newlyweds became so popular that he still receives comments referencing it from fans today.
"That show was obviously kind of a chapter in peoples' lives. It's cool to think that people paid attention enough to [reference things now]," he said. In 2019, he told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live: "I vibe with it. It does fascinate me, though, that it's been 15 years, I think, and people are still thinking about it like it was yesterday."
Nick and Jessica's comments about each other have been a little less friendly over the years. In July 2023, the fashion line mogul responded to TikToks which criticized the now-49-year-old's doting treatment of her on the show by saying: "It's amazing what publicity can do," regarding the good impression Nick had originally made on audiences.
But she also said in her Bustle interview: "I don't regret that at all. If anything, it was great TV. It was very real and Nick and I actually had a lot of fun."
In November 2022, Nick also threw some subtle shade towards his ex while filming the Love is Blind third season reunion with his wife and fellow co-host Vanessa. On the topic of one contestant having been married prior to being on the show, the 'What's Left of Me' singer said marriages were "always better the second time."
In 2015, Jessica jokingly told CNBC's Closing Bell that on the topic of her "biggest money mistakes" she "for some reason thought of my first marriage!" Then in 2014 during an appearance on SiriusXM's show Dirty, Nick spoke about how he felt it was a good thing the pair hadn't had children.
He continued though by expressing how both he and Jessica were now both happily married with children with their new partners. When asked if the two were still close, he answered: "I wouldn't say it's friends, but I wouldn't say it's enemies. There’s just no contact.
SEE: Jessica Simpson and her husband Eric Johnson's relationship timeline explored
"We've both moved on with our lives and I think we're very happy with the way it went. It's not animosity, it's not friendship, it’s just kind of nothing," he finished.
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