JESSICA SIMPSON - SIMPSON'S DAD SLAMS MARRIAGE MELTDOWN REPORTS

JESSICA SIMPSON's father has slammed reports suggesting his daughter's marriage to NICK LACHEY is on the rocks.

While JOE SIMPSON acknowledges that the pop couple have has some rough patches - he is adamant they're not on the verge of divorce.

He tells People magazine, "Do they fight? Hell yes, they fight. Have there been moments when Nick has wanted to leave Jessica or Jess has wanted to leave Nick? Absolutely."

But he's quick to add that the squabbles are not a sign of major trouble in the relationship, adding, "(It's the) same with me and my wife. If fighting is a sign of divorce, then we're all going to get divorced. My wife and I have been married 27 years. We've been at the edge of divorce for 26 of them."