Johnny Knoxville Begs Tabloids to Stop Jessica Simpson Romance Rumors  7/27/05

Movie star Johnny Knoxville is urging the media to stop writing stories about a rumored romance between him and Dukes of Hazzard co-star Jessica Simpson because they're upsetting his family.

The JACKASS star has laughed off the rumors up until now but he admits the persistence of them is beginning to ruin his home life.

Knoxville says, "It's an unfortunate thing because I have a wife and a nine-year-old and that stuff is hard on the family.

"Luckily, my wife and I have a dialogue and I said, 'Look, people are making these stories up and putting them in the papers.'

"She understands but of course she doesn't like it. I didn't like it and I'm sure Jessica and her husband Nick (Lachey) didn't like it."

The actor insists he can't do anything but plead with editors to stop writing the stories - because he accepts such coverage comes with being famous.

He adds, "It's part of the business and you try not to give it too much attention. It seems to give it more attention by fighting it, so it seems like a waste of time."

And he admits he himself is a huge fan of the tabloids: "There seems to be more magazines coming into circulation and I always buy them."