For the past I don’t even know how many months (three?), we’ve been hearing about Jessica Simpson’s new boyfriend, Eric Johnson, and what a loser he is. He’s a reitred NFL player who was supposed to go to Wharton Business School but ended up dropping out so he could spend more time with Jessica and her boobs and her money. We’ve heard many, many stories about how Jessica is paying for everything in the relationship (including her own jewelry, which Eric then “gives” her), and how Jessica – in her own words – feels “lucky” to be with a jobless business school dropout. Lately, however, her friends have really started going to the press (as unnamed sources) to bitch about Eric. This happened last week with Us Weekly’s hilarious bitchfest about Jessica and her gay BFF Ken Paves breaking up – Camp Paves leaked lots of funny quotes. Now Us Weekly has another hit piece:
Is Jessica Simpson’s flame dating her for fame? Eric Johnson, 31, “was never that successful in the NFL, but he’s always wanted the celebrity lifestyle,” a source tells Hot Stuff. “I believe that Jessica is his way to get famous. He’s using her.”
And it’s working out well for him, adds the insider: “She pays for most things. He doesn’t have the kind of money for first-class plane tickets or private jets.”
Some of her pals suspect the athlete – who is divorcing his wife of five years, stylist Keri Johnson – is in it for the perks.
“Eric doesn’t have a job, he just follows her around,” adds a second insider. “Her friends do not trust him.”
Still, a Simpson source counters that Johnson “has his own money from real estate properties,” and his lawyer, Richard Stilz, tells Us Weekly, “This has nothing to do with greed or fame. He cares a lot for Jessica and doesn’t care a hoot about her money.”
[From Us Weekly, print edition]
Granted, I’ve never heard Eric speak, but he strikes me as kind of a dumb guy. Do I think that about every guy who dates Jessica? Sure. I just don’t see how you could possibly have continued conversations with her. But if you’re her boyfriend and you get to have sex with her, it’s probably more interesting. So – is Eric a dumb guy who just fell in love with equally dumb Jessica, or is Eric some kind of brilliant slacker who is simply happy to be supported by the woman who adores him? Eh.
