Is Mark Wahlberg the ‘movie star’ who romanced Jessica Simpson?
Jessica Simpson recently revealed she fulfilled a “teenage fantasy” of meeting a “big movie star” in a new “short true story”.
Since we here at Page Six can’t resist a juicy celebrity blind article — and Simpson wrote a doozy — we’re taking our best guess.
The top contestant based on the clues given in Simpson’s tale, “Movie Star: They Always Say They’re Single,” is Mark Wahlberg.
According to Simpson, now 42, she first met the mystery man at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards while breaking up with her future ex-husband, Nick Lachey.
“He was stripping me with his eyes,” the singer told readers of the mystery man.
Jessica Simpson may be referring to Mark Wahlberg — who attended the 2001 VMAs wearing jeans and a t-shirt as depicted — in her recent essay on dating a caught movie star. WireImage
Simpson noted that the mystery dude wore jeans and a t-shirt. Wahlberg — who attended the show that year — wore jeans and a t-shirt.
Also in attendance were actors Will Smith, Will Ferrell, Andy Dick (who we immediately ruled out – sorry Andy!), Christopher Walken, Jamie Foxx and Johnny Knoxville (who Simpson has previously publicly stated she had an emotional affair with). .
Simpson claims the mystery man “was undressing [her] with his eyes” during the awards ceremony. Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Simpson said in the story that the unnamed actor knew his trainer. Ripped Wahlberg, now 51, is known for his workouts.
Plus, the “Ted” star was already famous in 2001, and could have been Simpson’s childhood crush. Wahlberg – formerly known as Marky Mark who rapped with his Funky Bunch – posed for a shirtless Calvin Klein ad in 1992 with Kate Moss.
In 1996, he starred opposite Reese Witherspoon in the hit thriller “Fear.”
Simpson and Wahlberg both attended the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, but she claims they didn’t meet until 2006. WireImage
Simpson wrote that she met the “big movie star” again in 2006 at the Beverly Hills Hotel as he prepared for another big awards show.
“He texted me throughout the awards show,” she said, explaining that was how she learned he wasn’t single. “Not long after, I saw a Movie Star photo on a red carpet with her. I would never be the other woman in a million years.
The actor’s current wife, Rhea Durham, was pregnant at the 2006 Golden Globes. Patrick McMullan via Getty Image She had given birth by the time the 2007 Emmys rolled around. WireImage
Wahlberg, who was in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” that year, attended the Golden Globes with his now wife, Rhea Durham, who was pregnant at the time.
A baby is not mentioned in Simpson’s account.
The “With You” singer was married to Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2006. Patrick McMullan via Getty Image The “With You” singer was married to Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2006. Getty Images
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The “With You” singer was married to Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2006. Getty Images
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Wahlberg also appeared on the Emmys carpet with Durham the following year when she was not pregnant.
Simpson said the anonymous star convinced her that her relationship was over, so she continued seeing him, even visiting him on a film set with a director “known to even the most casual moviegoer.”
Simpson said she ended things with the actor when she found out he had been abducted. Theo Wargo/NBC
Although the dates are slightly off, Wahlberg began filming M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” in August 2007 in Philadelphia, a city close enough to drive from New York. Simpson says she was picked up by a pal to go on set.
The shoe designer also wrote that the mystery actor told her that he spoke about her with his spiritual advisor.
Wahlberg has spoken extensively about his relationship with a Boston priest named Father Flavin, whom he credits with leading him away from the dark side of fame.
She married Eric Johnson in 2014. The couple share three children: Ace (left), Birdie (center) and Maxwell (right). Getty Images for Jessica Simpson She married Eric Johnson in 2014 Instagram/Jessica Simpson
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Simpson also said she ended things when she started feeling “like a call girl” who was only there “to have sex” with the unnamed celebrity.
“I didn’t care that he was my teenage fantasy come true, it wasn’t a choice the same girl, my younger self, would be proud of,” she wrote.
Simpson told People of the mystery man, “I’ll tell you this…he’s still a movie star!”
Wahlberg really is “still a movie star,” as the bombshell teased.Getty Images for Netflix
Among his many other projects, Wahlberg would star in the upcoming “The Six Billion Dollar Man.”
Representatives for Simpson and Wahlberg did not respond to a request for comment.