Jessica Simpson defends her kids flying coach after ex Nick Lachey put her on blast

Jessica Simpson explained why she was a few degrees distant from her children connected a caller flight.

The “With You” vocalist group nan grounds consecutive aft her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, claimed she sat successful first people while her kids flew economy connected a six-hour flight, telling photogs Wednesday astatine LAX, “My mom bought those tickets.”

She reiterated, “It was my mom’s dainty for america to spell to Hawaii.”

As Simpson began to spell done security, nan photog asked if her kids would beryllium pinch her if she were nan 1 who purchased nan tickets, to which she replied, “Of course!”

Lachey noted connected past Wednesday’s section of “Watch What Happens Live,” that Simpson was seated pinch her mother, Tina Ann Drew, and her now-estranged husband, Eric Johnson, successful first class.

The 98 degrees personnel was flying pinch woman Vanessa Lachey, whom he tied nan knot pinch successful 2011, and their 3 kids — son Camden, 13, daughter Brooklyn, 11, and son Phoenix, 9 — astatine nan time.

“I judge her kids and her — I’m not acquainted pinch wherever they stand, but — her husband, maybe, were connected nan level but not pinch us,” Nick explained, noting that his “former mother-in-law” was there, too.

The “Love Is Blind” big past confirmed Andy Cohen’s enquiry if Simpson and Johnson’s three kids — daughter Maxwell, 14, son Ace, 12, and daughter Birdie, 7 — were “in a abstracted people of service.”

Lachey shared that nan run-in was “strangely OK,” musing that “it’s been 20 years” since their matrimony successful nan mid-aughts.

The boy set frontman and manner designer walked down nan aisle successful 2002 earlier calling it quits 3 years later. Simpson and Nick finalized their divorcement successful 2006.

“We hadn’t seen each different successful those 20 years, past spent six and a half hours connected a formation to Hawaii together,” he explained.

Lachey made it clear nan duo didn’t walk nan formation together, but were simply “in nan aforesaid vicinity.”

He added that “everyone was very, very cordial” and “very respectful.”

Simpson and Johnson tied nan knot successful 2014 before announcing their split successful 2025.

“Eric and I person been surviving separately navigating a achy business successful our marriage,” Simpson told People at nan time.

“Our children travel first, and we are focusing connected what is champion for them,” her connection continued. “We are grateful for each of nan emotion and support that has been coming our way, and admit privateness correct now arsenic we activity done this arsenic a family.”