Nick Lachey Can't Escape Jessica Simpson Speculation  8/16/06

was shocked during his recent tour in Australia to find people were still obsessed with his split from wife Jessica Simpson, nine months after they separated.

The star was Down Under to promote his album What's Left of Me and was inundated by questions about his relationship with his ex-wife.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, "It is bizarre. We get so used to it in the States, but, yeah, to think that it's become like that in a lot of other places in the world, yeah, it's strange.

"People kind of think they know you before they have a chance to talk to you.

It is a surreal thing, but I guess it's kind of what we signed up for."

Lachey, who is now dating MTV presenter Vanessa Minnillo, believes the media glare is starting to die down adding, "I can already hopefully feel it starting to go away.

"I think there's some closure there for (Jessica) and I. Hopefully the rest of the world will find some closure along with us."