Nick Lachey convinced Kim Kardashian called snappers to their 2006 date

Pop singer Nick Lachey is convinced reality star Kim Kardashian gave the paparazzi a heads-up about their date in 2006 in order to gain publicity.

The 98 Degrees hitmaker briefly romanced Kardashian, who is now pregnant with rapper Kanye West's baby, over seven years ago and Lachey suggests the fashion designer once tipped off a pack of photographers so their movie outing would be well-documented in the tabloids.

The couple's relationship only lasted a short while, but when asked whether the What's Left of Me singer, who is now married to Vanessa Minnillo, had a hand in making Kardashian famous, he tells Details magazine, "That's one way to interpret it."

He adds, "Let's just say this: We went to a movie. No one followed us there. Somehow, mysteriously, when we left, there were 30 photographers waiting outside.

"There are certain ways to play this game, and some people play it well."