Vanessa Minnillo betrayed Jessica Simpson by dating Nick Lachey

In the split between Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, the sympathy of the public has clearly been with Nick. But that may be about to change. Vanessa Minnillo used to be close with Jessica Simpson. But in a Denise Richards/Richie Sambora turn of events, she’s been getting cozy with Lachey. Could this betrayal end up being positive for Jessica’s reputation?

According to In Touch Weekly, Jessica befriended Vanessa at an MTV event in 2003. The pals used to go out to dinner together and enjoyed many “girls’ nights out.” An insider for the magazine even says, “When Jess and Nick were falling apart, Jess confided to Vanessa.” Vanessa allegedly convinced Jessica that she was making the right decision to leave Nick.

But as soon as Lachey and Simpson called it quits, Minnillo swept in. Vanessa starred in Nick’s autobiographical video “What’s Left of Me,” portraying a character believed to be Jessica who broke Nick’s heart. A source said, “Jess was bothered by [the viedo], but she was willing to let it slide because she knows how badly Vanessa has wanted to get into acting.”

Now that Vanessa has been photographed sharing intimate moments with Nick off the set, though, it’s unlikely Jessica will ever be able to forgive her. One of In Touch’s sources explains, “[Vanessa’s relationship with Nick is] painful and hurtful, but it just reinforces [Jessica’s] decision to leave Nick.”

The Bosh