‘Newlyweds’ on the rocks?

New York — Jessica Simpson is denying rumors of any impending split with husband Nick Lachey — again.

After tabloids ran pictures of Lachey, 31, surrounded by cheerleaders at a Super Bowl party in Jacksonville, Fla., and reports of his dinner with ex-girlfriend Jordana Jarjura, Simpson says their difficulties have been greatly exaggerated.

“I trust Nick totally, and he trusts me,” Simpson told Us Weekly magazine in an issue hitting newsstands today. “We are committed to our relationship.”

Simpson says she was unaware of Lachey’s meeting with Jarjura, and while it was “innocent,” it was also a learning experience.

“There are lessons to be learned,” Simpson says. “Now Nick and I will tell each other about something like this ahead of time.”

The stars of MTV’s “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica” have been beset by tabloid speculation on their marriage’s imminent doom.

But Simpson, 24, says even when they are in different places, they are close: “He’s always the last person I talk to before I go to sleep.”

Red-carpet fashion guru loses ‘Today’ show gig

New York — Red-carpet fashion maven Steven Cojocaru’s gig on NBC’s “Today” show is over.

“He’s not going to be on the program again,” “Today” show publicist Lauren Kapp said Thursday. “We are going our separate ways and we wish him all the best.”

Cojocaru is scheduled to talk about his recent kidney transplant operation on an upcoming interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Carly Ubersox, a spokesman for Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, said Thursday.

There had been speculation that Cojocaru was being dropped as a “Today” contributor because of the upcoming interview.

The fashion commentator, who became known for his snappy assessment of celebrity awards show fashion, has polycystic kidney disease.

Birthdays

Actress Jennifer Aniston is 36. Author Sidney Sheldon is 88. Actor Leslie Nielsen is 79. Actor Burt Reynolds is 69. Singer Sheryl Crow is 43. Singer D’Angelo is 31. Singer-actress Brandy is 26.