Jessica's CosmoGirl UK photoshoot (is the split a stunt?)

Pop star, actress and spokeswoman Jessica Simpson and hubby Nick Lachey have officially separated and may be headed for divorce. One tabloid has reported that Jess is six weeks pregnant, so if that’s true – wouldn’t the couple desperately try to keep the marriage together? Perhaps - but one publication is already curious as to whether the entire event was staged as nothing more than a stunt. Reality TV Magazine speculates: The timing almost seems like a publicity stunt (maybe they're planning a new reality series called The Separation: Nick & Jessica). That Jessica and Nick chose to issue the release to Us Weekly also seems unusual. Us Weekly had reported the couple's split way back in their October 17 issue, and the couple had vehemently denied that it was true. Why would Jessica and Nick issue a press release to a magazine that had angered them by publishing an early story on their break-up if they didn't love the publicity? *** More speculation in the article is that the motive was a bit of revenge on celebrity journalists. The real answer - probably neither. This couple has had real marital troubles for some time. The timing of the announcement - along with an 'official' statement gives the couple four full days of breathing room as even though the news cycle keeps humming over the Thanksgiving weekend, few have time to really pay attention. They are eating on Thursday shopping on Friday and traveling over the weekend. In politics, this type of a late announcement is known as a document dump. Shrewd move by the couple as they will get a short break. [National Ledger]