Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicContrary to reports, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are not getting a divorce. "It's completely untrue," the #CandidlyNicole star's famous father, Lionel Richie, told Hello! magazine regarding the rampant breakup rumors surrounding the couple.
Tabloids recently speculated that a breakup was imminent after movers were spotted at the couple's home in Beverly Hills. "They've bought a new house and the moving van was pulling up at their old house to move to the new one," the 65-year-old "All Night Long" singer said. "Hence the story they are breaking up."
Nicole, 33, and Joel, 36, are parents to daughter Harlow, 7, and son Sparrow, 5. According to Lionel, the family of four—who recently listed their Beverly Hills mansion for $3.5 million—have never been better. "I went over to the new place recently and there were the Pup-Pups—otherwise known as my grandchildren—running around all excited showing me their new yard and their new pool."
Lionel confirmed that during the visit, he did discuss the breakup rumors with his daughter. "'Aren't you going to clear [the rumors] up?' I asked Nicole. 'Nah, it's OK,' she said...She's a seasoned Richie," he said. "But, as I said to Nicole, 'Rumors you don't worry about. It's when they print something and it's true you need to worry.'"
Last year, Nicole opened up to Oprah Winfrey about the best and worst part about being married to the Good Charlotte rocker. "We met and we were partners from day one. And from the second we found out we were going to parents together, we looked at each other and we said, 'OK, both of our parents are divorced. We both have had ups and downs with our parents and we don't really have a strong example of what a healthy family life is. But, we're recognizing that now, so let's work at it and let's go through this together as a team.' It's been great," the fashion designer and reality star said. "And I would say that's the easiest and hardest part."