Like many other modern women, Kim Kardashian‘s list of exes is quite long. Not counting her multiple ex-husbands, Kim has dated many famous guys in Hollywood. Some of them are more notable than others, like Nick Cannon, who still thinks he could’ve made things work with Kim, and Reggie Bush, from whom Kim split due to scheduling conflicts.

Not every ex still has love for Kim, and one long-ago date started shading her right after they went their separate ways. Kim Kardashian once dated Nick Lachey, and he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the experience. Here’s what happened—and how Nick Lachey and Kim Kardashian’s brief romance ended.

Kim Kardashian’s Love Life Has Always Been In The Spotlight

As soon as Kim Kardashian started stepping out with Paris Hilton, people were interested in her. In the early days of her reality TV fame, Kim didn’t quite stand on her own in terms of celebrity, though.

Her infamous tape with ex-boyfriend Ray J arguably helped Kim gain traction in the media, but before that, she and Ray J made headlines for their relationship.

Kim also married (and later divorced) a music producer, then dated Reggie Bush, and afterward connected with Miles Austin (another NFL player).

Then there was Kim’s wedding to Kris Humphries, which ended in divorce in 2013—after she had already begun dating Kanye West. But in between all these higher-profile relationships were different shorter-term relationships with various men in Hollywood.

Kim dated Nick Cannon from 2006 to 2007, after she split from Ray J, but she also had some more casual relationships in between.

Kim Kardashian Dated Nick Lachey Very Briefly

Kim Kardashian did date Nick Lachey, but so brief was their courtship that years later, hardly anyone remembers it. In truth, they only “dated,” as in going on a date. To hear Nick tell it, it was only a single date, and there was no reason for a second one.

In a book about the Kardashians, one writer even credited Nick with helping launch Kim’s career. But Lachey had a different perspective about the date, and the fame that stemmed from Kim being snapped with Nick.

Because snapped they were, and Nick wasn’t thrilled about it. In 2013, ET Online reported that Nick, in response to the retelling of his time with Kim in Kardashian Konfidential, had some specific thoughts about Kim.

As for him helping launch her career, Nick quipped, “That’s one way to interpret it.” He elaborated that the pair went to see a movie, and “no one followed” them there. Lachey noted, “Somehow, mysteriously, when we left, there were 30 photographers waiting outside.”

Laughing, Nick stated, “There are certain ways to play this game, and some people play it well.”

When Did Nick Lachey Date Kim Kardashian?

Kim Kardashian went on her single date with Nick Lachey in 2006. It was only about six months after Nick split from his ex-wife Jessica Simpson, and based on the timeline, it sounds as if Nick Lachey dated Kim before she connected with Nick Cannon.

Yet Nick wouldn’t call Kim his ex today, according to a conversation he had with Andy Cohen. Lachey said the two only had that single date—a matinee at a movie theater, during which she left to use the restroom—and that they hadn’t kept in touch.

As much as he seemed to drag Kim for using him for fame, even as she seemed to perceive the opposite, Nick didn’t have harsh words for Kim during the more recent chat. Instead, he called her a nice girl while saying they “had a great time.”

Fans (specifically on Instagram) have speculated that Nick was in on Kim’s paparazzi plan, suspecting that on the heels of his split from Jessica, he needed some good publicity. And one piece of evidence that supports fans’ assumptions? Both Kim and Nick were dressed to the nines for their matinee movie date.

The paparazzi photos from the date show Nick in a black suit jacket and tie, while Kim matches him in a black top (or dress) and white blazer. Kim also looked directly at the camera, while Nick seemed unsure of where to focus his gaze.

Do Kim Kardashian And Nick Lachey Get Along?

As staged as the date might have been, it wasn’t a bad thing for either Nick or Kim at the time. And of course, that paparazzi moment preceded Nick’s threatening a photographer and allegedly punching her car window.

As for Kim, she had plenty more ‘surprise’ paparazzi moments, but as she grew more famous, so did her pool of romantic partners. Today, hardly anyone would expect Kim to step out with a former boy band member turned reality TV dating show host.

In terms of their possible friendship today, Nick said they didn’t keep in touch, and Kim herself doesn’t seem to have mentioned her one-time date at all.