It's been several months since the initial rumors started. Since then, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have publicly denied that their marriage was on the rocks. This week, after months of pouring water on the fires of their rumored separation, the two finally admit the rumors were true.

The couple first released an official statement yesterday (Nov 23) to US Weekly magazine, which actually first reported an official split in their October 17 issue. Lachey, at the time, denied the story via his publicist.

The statement then made the rounds to the rest of us media. It simply reads:

"After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways. This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other. We hope that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."

The two first met when they were just achieving their first tastes of stardom. Jessica had a burgeoning pop career, with several charting hits, and Nick was a member of the successful male pop vocal band 98 Degrees. After many public declarations that the two were saving themselves for their wedding night, Nick and Jessica married in Austin, Texas on October 26, 2002 in front of 250 friends and family.

Their first year of marriage was filmed and turned into the mega-hit MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, which chronicled the misadventures of their day-to-day lives. Many of the episodes showcased Jessica as, well, less than brainy. One of her most famous blunders is when she asked if a can of Chicken of the Sea tuna was actually chicken.

The separation rumors first started surfacing while Simpson, 25, was filming the Dukes of Hazzard movie in Louisiana. Lachey, 32, often stayed at home in Los Angeles while she was on set. Once the movie wrapped, the couple continued to make the rounds ring- and spouse-free. She showed up at her sister's 21st birthday party in Las Vegas in October without Lachey or her wedding ring, and he showed up at this week's American Music Awards without her, as well.

Some say the split was caused by the fact that Lachey's career hasn't enjoyed the post-Newlyweds success that Simpson's has. In addition to a hot box office debut, her cosmetic line, Dessert, should gross close to $30 million this year, she just debuted a shoe collection line and she continues to enjoy a successful recording career.

In comparison, Lachey's last cd, "Soul-O," sold just 105,000 copies. He has started acting, with a small recurring role on the TV show Charmed and as a contributor on ESPN's College GameDay, but ABC has recently passed on a pilot he shot with actress Gina Gershon.

Others blame the split on the controlling nature of Simpson's father, Joe, who acts as her manager. But at the time of the split, he was trying to develop a new MTV reality series featuring Lachey's struggles to sign with a record label. It's now unclear what will happen to that project.

Simpson herself is currently working on her fourth album, which has now been pushed back to a Spring 2006 release.

In a foreshadowing of this break-up statement, Simpson's publicist of the last two years, Brad Cafarelli, reportedly dropped her as a client late last week. Cafarelli had been the one doing the majority of the rumor dodging the last few months for the couple and talk is he simply didn't want to deal with having to backtrack on damage control he's been having to do by sending out the statement that admits the couple really have called it quits.

In addition to the separation, Lachey is dealing with rumors that the New York Post has been approached by a porn star looking to sell a story about her night with him post-marriage. Lachey, through his attorney, is claiming the whole story is false and he never cheated on Simpson.

The couple just celebrated their third anniversary last month. There is no word on whether the separation will lead to a divorce filing by either party, and if so, when that will happen.

For more on Jessica Simpson, please visit her official website at: www.jessicasimpson.com. For more information on Nick Lachey, please visit the 98 Degrees website at: www.98degrees.com.