Jessica Simpson's Parents Divorce: Joe and Tina Simpson Split After 34 Years of Marriage

Posted on Oct 24th 2012 12:20PM by AOL Music Staff

Jessica Simpson's Parents Divorce Jason Merritt, Getty Images

The parents of pop stars Jessica and Ashlee Simpson have decided to call it quits on their marriage after 34 years as man and wife. Tina Simpson filed for divorce from Joe Simpson, ET reports, after obtaining court papers today (Oct. 24).

According to the documents, Tina submitted the divorce filing in McLennan County, Texas on Sept. 24 . The split comes just weeks after Joe -- a former Baptist minister -- was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

News of the divorce also coincides with a National Enquirer report that Joe recently came out to his family as gay. "Joe got the family together about two months ago and came out of the closet," an alleged insider told the gossip magazine. "He told them that he'd tried to continue in his marriage to Tina, but he couldn't go on any longer and deny the fact that he had these feelings for men. Joe said it wasn't fair to her, and it wasn't fair to him."

According to the source, Jessica and Ashlee did not take the surprise very well. "They asked Joe how long he'd known he was gay, and he said he'd known it for quite awhile. Jessica felt that he'd not only deceived their mom, but her and Ashlee as well."

The story also alleges Joe is engaged in a romantic relationship with a 20-something-year-old man. However, a rep for the Simpson family tells PEOPLE, "It is an amicable split and there is no third party involved. Any other related allegations are completely false."

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Filed under: Hot Off the Press

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bemystic11

If he is gay, it's unfortunate this had to happen. We live in such a homophobic society that discriminates and vilifies gays and lesbians, that coming out of the closet has serious consequences for many, unless they have enlightened parents and live in enlightened communities. I know so many gay men who married early in life as cover, many despising themselves. And many of those same men made the painful decision to leave the closet and the inauthentic lives they were leading. Hopefully there can be healing at some point. I have empathy for everyone involved. However it doesn't absolve him for being a jerk and control freak about Jessica's career and personal life.

October 24 2012 at 5:10 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

exnavy2003

what a disgusting deceitful person--He shattered his life and others due to his lies and inability to be a man and tell his wife what the deal was and that's not even counting his former parishioners who placed their faith in him!!!!

October 24 2012 at 4:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jan Tiffany

Staying in Texas had nothing to do with this. Nor does Hollywood. He has known or had questions for years while hiding behind the marriage and living a life he wasn't meant to live. Something like this tears families apart in more ways than one. Its no different than a husband in a long term marriage suddenly wanting to dump his wife of 20+ years to marry a much younger woman. When that happens its best to let go and move on to a better life. He cannot change the fact he is a gay man. I wish the entire family well and hope the media does not profit from this.

October 24 2012 at 4:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jan Tiffany

I feel for his wife and daughters. This is not unusual. Its been going on for years with long term married couples. When it hits your family its a jolt and one that is difficult to come to terms with. It is traumatic at best. The first thought is to protect the children, and other family members. I understand how his wife and daughters feel as a former wife myself who dealt with a similar situation with twists and turns finally ending in a divorce years ago. I fully support the gay and lesbian communities for their courage in fighting for their rights to marry as couples because I know the grief they go through and the burden society puts on them. It is better for them to go public with their gender preferences than to involve married couples with divorce and broken families as the end result.

October 24 2012 at 4:10 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply

Itiswhatitis

See.......all men are pukes. Now look what this rube has pulled on his family. I use to work for his family member (owner) of XTO Energy & I wonder what Bob thinks of this.

October 24 2012 at 4:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kittyhawkgrl

funny how most preachers preach that gays are going to hell...wonder what he thinks about that now??? I would be so pissed if a guy took away 34 years of my life based on their lie!!

October 24 2012 at 3:56 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply

niceguy71653

Did they finally figure out Jessica was their daughter and decided not to possibly let that happen again?

October 24 2012 at 3:36 PM Report abuse Permalink -2 rate up rate down Reply

cozzod

how do you spell hypocrite
simpsons parents

October 24 2012 at 3:34 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

gaxfla

Has enough Jessica money now to divorce and "take a walk on the wild side".......

October 24 2012 at 3:32 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

nvmaddog

Guess that whole holier than thou attitude finally caught up.

October 24 2012 at 3:20 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply