Nicole Richie
Gossip

The uber-skinny Nicole Richie says that, contrary to media reports, she was back in rehab this month and was just "on tour with [Joel Madden]" - her Good Charlotte boyfriend.

Richie went on On Air with Ryan Seacrest's KIIS FM morning show Wednesday, saying she believes that because she was not photographed for over a week, reports surfaced she was in rehab for drug abuse and eating disorders.

That and the fact that she weighs 45 pounds.

Anyway.

While she revealed that Paris Hilton is "scared" about going to jail, the anorexic waif is also nervous she may have to spend time in the slammer herself - stemming from her awesome, infamous wrong-side-of-the-road DUI arrest.

Although no decision has been made in the Nicole Richie case, she says, "I have to deal with any consequences that come my way."

You think?

Nicole held a now infamous barbecue last weekend, where Mischa Barton was hospitalized for "an adverse reaction to prescription medication," and which featured a pre-rehab appearance by Lindsay Lohan.

You know, just the kind of company a struggling "star" should keep.

Richie says she was not present for either Lindsay Lohan's "five-minute" visit, or for Mischa's medical scare, because the hostess was at the supermarket "buying Sunny Delight."

Suuuuuure thing. We've heard some ridiculous lies during a year deep in the trenches of the celebrity gossip business, but that one's a whopper.

It may even rival claims that the Dustin Diamond sex tape was released accidentally, not on purpose by the cretinous former child star.

You can listen to clips of Nicole's interview with Seacrest here.

It's a photo finish of gigantic and anemic proportions. These two women may not be bringing sexy back, but they're taking their trademark looks (at least lately) to new levels.

On the left, we've got Salma Hayek, showing off that ginormous booty while out to lunch Sunday. No wonder they're making a movie about her called Knocked Up*.

Many fans might be tuned off by this pic, but we're sure that François-Henri Pinault, who put a baby up in that, is digging her maternal curves.

The mom-to-be sported a black t-shirt with the words "Stylish. Sexy. Pregnant." written across her huge breasts. We have no further comment at this time.

To the right, we have Simple Life star and apparent Darfur refugee Nicole Richie. Holy frickin' mother of ... Wow. And we thought Keira Knightley was thin.

Nicole, seen here embarking on a coffee run, is in need of a hell of a lot more than a caffeinated beverage. Her skeletal frame makes Britney Spears' frumpy new Flintstones clothing style seem like the sexiest thing ever.

Which look is hotter? You decide! Let us know.

* - Yes, we know it's a comedy starring Katherine Heigl.

Nicole Richie may have mended fences with her one-time nemesis Paris Hilton, but the tiny reality TV "star" faces another personal problem.

For once, we're not talking about the fact that she doesn't eat.

Nicole Richie has reportedly shunned her mother, Brenda Harvey-Richie, even as she remains in the hospital after major surgery.

"Brenda was in the hospital. She had a hysterectomy," said a source.

"Nicole hasn't visited her since."

In other mom-daughter news, a similar spat meant Britney Spears reportedly didn't visit her hospitalized mother, Lynne, on Mother's Day.

Richie, who is not back in rehab as some sites reported, has been making regular visits to her therapist, and insiders say her issues with her mom may be to blame:

"The two have not been getting along lately."

Richie's rep had no comment on the feud, which makes the Rosie O'Donnell - Elisabeth Hasselbeck rift seem downright cordial.

Reports are swirling that tabloid princess Nicole Richie is back - yet again - in rehab and more "helpless" than ever.

We wouldn't be surprised. We would react similarly to the the news that Britney Spears went shopping, neglected her kids, took a dance class or performed another sub-par, 11-minute show for $125 tickets.

But TMZ tells us that it just isn't so. The Nicole Richie part, anyway. In fact, Nicole is sitting at home in Glendale right now and doing fine, her rep says.

Still, the National Enquirer and Star are jointly reporting that walking freak show re-entered rehab at Beau Monde May 11 to fight anorexia and a painkiller addiction, on an outpatient basis, and that she did so "in tears," lamenting the fact that she's "lost control of her life."

What's more, report the tabs, Paris Hilton's bitchy gal pal went back in just a few days ago, on the 19th.

But Richie's rep tells a totally different story, namely that she isn't - and wasn't - in rehab, and that she's "in Glendale at her house."

We hope there is food there. Or that Brody Jenner is bored today and decides to start up his campaign to date her and make her eat again.

We're told that she did go back to see her therapist, and that her recovery is "an ongoing process," but that she's "completely sober."

Well, that's good. She's a step ahead of Tom Sizemore and Scott Stapp.

Two best friends and/or bitter enemies. Two contrasting models of behavior in recent days.

Let's start with Paris Hilton. The soon-to-be con had her prison sentence reduced to 23 days. She will also be separated from the general inmate population. The reason? Good behavior, of course.

An example of this behavior? No, not whatever she does with Stavros Niarchos behind closed door. But simply showing up for her latest court date is apparently enough to have Hilton's jail sentence sliced in half.

Paris will stay in a unit that contains 12 two-person cells reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities and other high-profile inmates. Maybe she can be a pen pal with Joe Francis.

Like everyone else in the 2,200-inmate facility, Hilton will get at least an hour outside her cell each day to shower, watch television (maybe the Kim Kardashian reality show will be airing by then), participate in outdoor recreation or talk on the telephone.

Meanwhile, Hilton will actually be on television when the fifth season of The Simple Life premieres this summer. But word on the set is that Paris' cohort on the program has been acting out.

During the shoot, TMZ reports that Nicole Richie constantly showed up late, and upped her unreasonable behavior to another level during the final shoot of the season, when the all-important "show open" was being taped.

Nicole turned up "several hours late" with boyfriend Joel Madden, and then gave producers another impossible deadline. After a serious blow-out argument, we're told producers had to call her agents just to get her to stay on-set.

Where was the actress singer thin famous person? Not at a restaurant, that much is certain. Maybe she was trying to get Brittany Murphy to divorce Simon Monjack.

Lord knows everyone else is.

Yes, we realize the title of this post is oxymoronic, as nothing at all about Nicole Richie could possibly be considered classic. That word implies something once had redeeming qualities or some semblance of worth, and while Richie may not be as detestable as Spencer Pratt (who is, really), she's hardly vintage.

Just the same, the photos below are a heck of a lot more pleasing than the sickly, ghostly, flat-out wrong Nicole Richie pictures presented to us these days.

Yes, long before Nicole was known for blowing chunks and Joel Madden, she was just Paris Hilton's slightly chunky, fun-loving pal on the reality TV hit, The Simple Life.

Check out this old Maxim/Stuff spread. While they may be the most airbrushed photos of all time, we definitely prefer the old Nicole. Much like we dig the old Kate Bosworth. 

And people were saying that a photo comparison of Avril Lavigne and Elvira (Mistress of the Dark) was f*%ked up. They ain't seen nothin' yet.

When the world was introduced to Nicole Richie in 2003, she was known as that harlot Paris Hilton's sweet, chunky sidekick from the hit reality TV series The Simple Life.

And we were cool with that. She seemed nice and harmless enough, despite the inherent awfulness of Paris Hilton and The Simple Life. We were Nicole Richie fans.

Fast forward three years, though, and the sweet youthful Nicole had been replaced with a svelte, fashion-forward model. And by svelte, we mean freakish. Anorexic. Gaunt. Yeah, this lack of sustinence puts Keira Knightley to shame.

Here's Nicole Richie, circa 2003 and 2006. Prepare to gasp in abject terror ...

Nicole Richie is famous for doing nothing except looking like an anorexic alien life form being a party girl, but she can add diva to her resume after last night's MTV Australia Video Music Awards.

Sources say that Nicole Richie was the only presenter who refused to take part in the dress rehearsal, not leaving her dressing room all day.

Not even boyfriend Joel Madden could cajole her.

The hypoglycemic starlet is reportedly being paid big bucks in appearances fees, so organizers expected her to do the job properly.

Other bigger names, such as Pink and host Fergie, took part in the rehearsal without complaint.

We also hear that her management had diva demands regarding her dressing room, unlike the slight star, her room had to be large.

Richie's trip hasn't been a happy one, after she upset her fans when she arrived at Sydney Airport Saturday, refusing to sign autographs for many who had waited up to 48 hours for a glimpse of their idol.

Why anyone would stand in line to take Nicole Richie pictures or get an autograph is beyond us. But sounds like Paris Hilton's BFF needs a serious reality check. And to put on about 25 pounds. Come on, girl. Eat. It's the American way.

Hardly any paparazzi bothered the celebs at L.A. club Winston's on April 23, reports an Us Weekly celebrity gossip spy who was on the scene.

That said, Nicole Richie assumed the role of cameraman, snapping photos of gal pal Lindsay Lohan, with whom she arrived in a black Suburban.

The Crotch of Fire, 20, certainly looked photo-ready. The actress breezed into the club wearing a plaid cowboy/flannel shirt over a cute denim mini, her hair blown out Farrah Fawcett-gorgeous.

When Richie, who's gearing up for a new season of The Simple Life, was done with snapping pics, she handed the camera over to a pal who shot the two lovely ladies with an unidentified man.

We don't know what inspired this waifish, anorexic camera action, but it was a slow night on the club scene, okay? Every night out can't feature Lauren Conrad sucking face with American Idol hopefuls.

Anyway. After about an hour-long photo session, Richie grabbed Lindsay and pal Kimberly Stewart, and herded them into the bathroom.

The 27-year-old Kim was trying to cop Lindsay's casual denim look - a short, floral-print dress with an unbuttoned denim vest and blown-out hair.

But she looked like she was headed to an '80s party. A bad '80s party. Of course, we'd much prefer seeing a hot Kimberly Stewart than we would a nude Sean Stewart. But that's neither here nor there, is it?

Like Lindsay Lohan, Kim was sipping a clear fluid for much of the night... but unlike the rehabbing Double-L, it didn't come in a 16 oz water bottle.

Apparently Kim got bored with Nicole's flashbulbs because she returned to the table 15 minutes later to flirt with a guy in a dark grey fedora â€" grabbing his hat and dancing for him all Pussycat Dolls-style.

Despite the sexy moves, there was not much spark. In fact, none of the women in the club, which included Eve and Michelle Rodriguez, seemed to have any boy toys with them.

Ladies night at Winston's, probably. No wonder Britney Spears didn't make it.

Nicole Richie is one skinny bitch. That's a constant.

But her hairstyle is ever-changing. Even though Nicole Richie's tried every hair color - blonde to red to brunette - we'd gotten used to her long, caramel colored locks recently.

So when she stepped out on the red carpet for the Race to Erase MS Gala in L.A. on Saturday night, the Simple Life "actress" had a much lighter, sleek shoulder-length cut with heavy bangs. Also known as the zombie look.

The celebrity fashion critics at T.H. Gossip believe the paler blonde sets off her skin tone beautifully, while the bob suits her petite frame. But we want to know what you think.

Leave us a comment and share your thoughts on the coiffure of Joel Madden's beleaguered, possibly emaciated better half.