
November 23, New York — A month after Us Weekly first reported on the breakup of Newlyweds Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, the couple has jointly announced an official separation. ‘After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways,’ the couple tells Us in an exclusive joint statement. ‘This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other. We hope that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.’ Us Weekly first reported the couple’s split in its October 17 issue; at that time, Lachey’s publicist issued a denial of an official separation. Just last week, Lachey partied alone with pals in Miami, on November 22, he attended the American Music Awards without his wife, one day after the New York Post reported that a porn star was peddling a seamy story about her night with Lachey (Lachey’s attorney has denied any impropriety). Tellingly, at the AMAs, Simpson’s father Joe Simpson told an Us reporter of his daughter’s ongoing media scrutiny, ‘We are Simpsons, we take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.’