Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Report: Jessica Simpson's Dad Came Out Of Closet To Family, He's Dating A Young Male Model
Rumors about Joe Simpson's sexuality have flying ever since it was announced that his wife Tina filed for divorce from the former Baptist minister and manager to daughters Ashlee and Jessica.Earlier this week Radar Online reported that the 54-year-old Simpson had come out of the closet to his family a few months ago. Tina and Joe Simpson have been together for 34 years, and she filed for divorce on September 24.
As the rumors about his sexuality swirled, Simpson debuted a new (fabulous?) look that includes short-cropped, bleached hair.
An anonymous source told Radar that Simpson has been dating a 21-year-old model named Bryce Chandler Hill on and off for the last year. This source claims that the pair were introduced by a TJ Espinoza, a friend of Jessica and Ashlee who is a back-up dancer for Britney Spears. The website Oh No They Didn't! has screenshots of some jokey/flirty tweets from Simpson to Hill.
A rep for the Simpson family says that no "third party" prompted the divorce between Tina and Joe. The rep told People: "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."
Hill denied the whole story outright on Twitter:
Yes, I've read the story....it's simply NOT TRUE.
— Bryce (he/him) (@Bryce_Chandler) October 27, 2012
Radar online says that rumors about Simpson having a torrid affair with Hill have been floating around the gay community in Hollywood over the last year. The source says Simpson is into Hill, but claims that Hill is mostly interested in seeing if Simpson could help his career.Jessica and Ashlee are taking the news badly, this source tells Radar: "Jessica’s been trying to process the information slowly, but she’s having difficulty dealing with it. She can’t understand why Joe stayed married to Tina for so long, and can't help wondering how much of their life was a lie."