Nick Lachey Joins Lover Vanessa Minnillo on TV  7/27/06

Nick Lachey and his reported lover Vanessa Minnillo went public with their romance yesterday (26JUL06) when the pop star joined the giggling TV presenter on her MTV show.

The Total Request Live link-up marked the first time the couple had appeared together on TV since Minnillo played Lachey's love interest in his What's Left of Me video, sparking romance rumors.

The pair has been candid about the relationship, insisting they're just friends, but they recently holidayed together in Mexico, where they were spotted kissing and cuddling like young lovers.

Minnillo's TRL co-host Damien Fahey took charge of interviewing Lachey after the pop star made his entrance, and steered clear of quizzing him about his romance, but the pop star confessed he's tired of all the speculation.

He said, "It's a bit overwhelming sometimes, especially when you feel the truth is not always getting out there... I've just learned to shut that all out and ignore it."

Minnillo, whose past boyfriends include baseball superstar Derek Jeter, was scarce on the MTV show last week (ends21JUL06) when Lachey's estranged wife Jessica Simpson was a guest host.

Lachey was on the show to premiere his new video, I Can't Hate You Anymore, which, like his last release, is a commentary about his failed marriage.

He told Fahey, "This song is all about finding peace with yourself and being able to finally come to that place where you say, 'I'm not gonna be bitter anymore, I'm not gonna be angry anymore. It's time to move on and not hate anymore.'"