Jessica Simpson's parents divorcing

Jessica and Ashlee Simpson's parents Joe and Tina attend a party promoting the movie "Major Movie Star" during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival. Credit: Getty Images, 2007
The parents of singer-fashion entrepreneur Jessica Simpson and singer-actress Ashlee Simpson are divorcing after 34 years of marriage, with a family representative denying tabloid speculation that father Joe Simpson has come out to his family as gay.
"It is an amicable split and there is no third party involved," the representative said in a statement. "Any other related allegations are completely false. The family appreciates your respect for their privacy at this time."
The divorce petition -- filed Sept. 24 in McLennan County, Texas, but undisclosed or unnoticed until Wednesday -- was brought by Tina Ann Simpson, 52, against Joe Truett Simpson, 54, claiming, "The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities."
Joe Simpson, known affectionately as "Papa Joe," is a former pastor and longtime manager of both daughters. The parents were featured on both of their daughters' MTV reality shows: Jessica's "Newlyweds" (with ex-husband Nick Lachey) and Ashlee's "Ashlee Simpson Show."
Neither daughter has tweeted since Oct. 20, and no family member has spoken publicly about the divorce filing or the tabloid allegations.
The National Enquirer published the report about Joe Simpson, citing an unnamed source.
Jessica Simpson, 32, has been engaged to former NFL pro Eric Johnson since November 2010. The two had daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on May 1. Ashlee Simpson, 28, married Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz in 2008, divorcing him in 2011. They have a son, Bronx Mowgli born in November 2008.
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