A source close to the Simpson family tells FOX411 that the news Joe and Tina Simpson are getting a divorce doesn’t come as a great surprise.
“From what I know they have been separated for a while," the insider said. "It has been known they weren’t ‘together’ but it seemed more a marriage of convenience."
The National Enquirer goes even further, claiming Joe Simpson gathered the family to break the news he has a boyfriend, and was coming out of the closet.
The Simpsons' rep denied the report, telling FoxNews.com: "It is an amicable split and there is no third party involved. Any other related allegations are completely false. The family appreciates your respect for their privacy at this time."
Tina filed for divorce last month in Texas, stating: "The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities."
In the county where Tina filed, there are strict rules about how divorcing spouses have to behave toward each other during proceedings. If one spouse violates the rules, they could be found in contempt of court.
Joe filed a response to Tina's divorce petition days later, insisting Tina get nothing from the split.
Joe and Tina both played roles in turning daughters Jessica and Ashlee into pop superstars, and Joe has been Jessica's manager for years. Jessica is worth an estimated $100 million, and is the face of a fashion line that is reportedly worth over a billion dollars.
Jessica recently gave birth to her first child, daughter Maxwell. Ashlee has a son, Bronx, with rocker Pete Wentz. Ashlee divorced Wentz in 2011. Jessica is engaged to Maxwell's father, Eric Johnson. She was married to singer Nick Lachey from 2002-2006.
Tina and Joe were married in 1978. Attorneys for the estranged couple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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