RICHIE HIT WITH BABY, WEDDING RUMORS
June 18, 2007
Sure, Nicole Richie's rickety arms don't seem strong enough to hoist a box of Huggies or balance a bridal bouquet, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning with chatter of a stork delivery and an aisle-walk in her future.
First up is the baby burbling, which grew louder on Saturday night when the diaphanous, rehab- and eating disorder-denying starlet attempted to avoid shutterbugs by covering her face with a bag of takeout (yes, she was in proximity to food), a move that pulled her roomy brown minidress taut and highlighted some head-scratching swelling around her usually concave belly.
So, is it a bundle of joy, bloat from eating a Lifesaver or the most elaborate "Simple Life" publicity stunt ever?
According to the New York Post, a "good pal" of Richie's says she's "definitely" incubating the spawn of Good Charlotte front man Joel Madden, 28, her boyfriend of less than a year.
According to the New York Post, a "good pal" of Richie's says she's "definitely" incubating the spawn of Good Charlotte front man Joel Madden, 28, her boyfriend of less than a year.
The ostensible friend also claims Nicole, who was popped for DUI in December, has her fingers crossed that her supposedly delicate condition will help her escape the same pokey-filled fate as sometime BFF Paris Hilton.
"Nicole is kind of hoping her pregnancy will keep her out of jail," the chatty confidante alleges to the paper, which adds that other friends are worried and "wondering if she can carry the baby to term because of her weight issues."
"Nicole is kind of hoping her pregnancy will keep her out of jail," the chatty confidante alleges to the paper, which adds that other friends are worried and "wondering if she can carry the baby to term because of her weight issues."
For now, Richie, 25, is sidestepping questions about whether there's an eensy-weensy (and likely wee bit peckish) bun baking in her Easy-Bake-like oven, and her rep has refused to confirm or deny the rumors, saying only there's "nothing to report" (via E! News).
Even dad Lionel is pleading ignorance, recently telling TMZ.com of the maternity mumblings, "I don't know. I'll find out myself."
As for Nicole's mom, Brenda, she may be even further out of the loop. According to Celebrity Babylon, mother and daughter are "totally estranged" right now, and Richie has been holed up in "a secret place ... to try to deal with everything that's going on."
Still, Nicole wasn't exactly hiding on Thursday as she slipped into a flowing frock for the YSL Pool Party benefit at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she was joined by the newly skunk-Mohawked Madden.
The twosome chowed down on lobster salad and lamb, but spurned offers of booze, "a first" for Richie, a source snippily tells the Post.
The twosome chowed down on lobster salad and lamb, but spurned offers of booze, "a first" for Richie, a source snippily tells the Post.
Joel, for his part, was "overly attentive to her -- keeping his arm around her all night -- and repeatedly asked her if she was OK." (By the by, the New York Daily News reports the rocker's ex, Hilary Duff, bailed out of the soiree at the 11th hour when she learned they were going to be in attendance.)
As for the knot-tying nattering, that was seemingly sparked by the dazzler dragging down Nicole's twiggy digit at the star-packed charity event, which a spy described to the Post as a "big rock surrounded by more diamonds."
The only hitch in the nuptial theory: The ring was on the middle finger of her left hand, not the all-important third one.
This is the second time this year that Nicole and Joel have been at the center of matrimonial rumblings. In February, they were reportedly spotted checking out rings at a Los Angeles jewelry store.
Richie, of course, is no stranger to the question-popping process. She was previously engaged to Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein
Example -- Nicole Richie:Photos
