Jessica Simpson and her husband, Eric Johnson, are calling it quits after more than a decade of marriage, and sources close to the couple are concerned about the emotional toll the breakup could have on the country pop star. RadarOnline.com has learned that friends and family fear the split may send Simpson down a dangerous path, possibly triggering a relapse into her past struggles with substance abuse.
The 44-year-old singer and fashion mogul has been open about her battles with alcohol, opiates, and diet pills, which she used to cope with deep insecurities for years. Simpson’s personal journey to sobriety came to a head on Halloween night in 2017, when she made a pivotal decision to prioritize her children over partying.
However, now that she and Johnson, a former pro-football player, are parting ways, those close to Simpson worry the lack of his steady support could unravel the progress she’s made.
“Eric has been a stabilizing force for Jessica,” an insider shared. “People in her life are deeply concerned about how she’ll manage without him by her side.”
For years, Simpson has fought hard to overcome her demons, and Hollywood insiders fear the emotional weight of this separation may reignite old temptations. “It took so much strength for her to turn things around,” a second source added. “Now, with the marriage falling apart, there’s real concern she might struggle again.”
The news of Simpson and Johnson’s split doesn’t come as a shock to those familiar with the couple’s rocky relationship. The two had been living mostly apart while co-parenting their three children—Maxwell (12), Ace (11), and Birdie (5). Rumors of tension between them had been circulating for months, and friends say they had been teetering on the edge of separation for some time.
“They’ve been on the brink for a while, and it’s not surprising they’ve finally called it quits,” a source explained. “They tried to make it work for the kids, but at the end of the day, it just wasn’t sustainable.”