Nick Lachey details plane run-in with ex-wife Jessica Simpson after 20 years apart: ‘WWHL’

No degrees of separation.

Nick Lachey described his and ex-wife Jessica Simpson’s recent plane run-in on “Watch What Happens Live” Wednesday.

The 98 Degrees member, 52, dubbed the March 29 reunion “strangely OK,” pointing out that “it’s been 20 years” since he was married to Simpson.

Nick Lachey spoke about his and Jessica Simpson’s recent plane run-in on “Watch What Happens Live” Wednesday. Bravo
The interaction was “strangely OK” and “fine,” the 98 Degrees member claimed. Bravo

“We hadn’t seen each other in those 20 years, then spent six and a half hours on a flight to Hawaii together,” he noted — before clarifying they were simply “in the same vicinity.”

According to Lachey, “everyone was very, very cordial” and “very respectful.”

The “Perfect Match” host’s “whole family” — wife Vanessa Lachey and their three children — were onboard the flight from Los Angeles.

The “Perfect Match” host dubbed his former spouse “cordial” and “respectful.” Bravo
“It’s been 20 years,” Lachey said of last seeing his “Newlyweds” co-star. ©MTV/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection

As for Simpson, Nick said his former “Newlyweds” co-star was with his “former mother-in-law,” Tina Ann Drew.

Awkwardly mentioning Simpson’s estranged husband, Eric Johnson, Nick added, “I believe her kids and her — I’m not familiar with where they stand, but — her husband, maybe, were on the plane but not with us.”

Host Andy Cohen asked whether Simpson’s little ones were “in a separate class of service,” which Nick confirmed.

The duo (pictured above in September 2003) were married from 2002 to 2006. Getty Images
The singers (pictured above in January 2005) were both on a flight to Hawaii on March 29. Getty Images

TMZ reported as much when news of the interaction broke in April, alleging that Simpson, 45, switched seats with someone to be further from her ex.

At the time, Us Weekly claimed the former reality stars “actually did say hello” and had “a nice, cordial conversation.”

Simpson and Nick wed in 2002, calling it quits three years later and finalizing their divorce in 2006.

Nick was with his “whole family” — wife Vanessa Lachey and their three children (pictured above in September 2024). nicklachey/Instagram
Simpson’s estranged husband, Eric Johnson (pictured above in December 2019), was in a “separate class of service” with their three kids. jessicasimpson/Instagram

Nick and Vanessa, 45, tied the knot in 2011 and are now the parents of son Camden, 13, daughter Brooklyn, 11, and son Phoenix, 9.

As for Simpson, she and Johnson walked down the aisle in 2014.

Since their 2025 breakup, the duo co-parent daughter Maxwell, 14, son Ace, 12, and daughter Birdie, 7.

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