Nicole Richie: Eating Disorder Rumors "Extremely Insulting And Irresponsible"
Jan. 29 2010, Published 4:48 a.m. ET
Nicole Richie said she has never had an eating disorder, contrary to the rumor mill that was spinning rampant in 2006 when the reality TV star was photographed looking emaciated in a bikini.
“I felt it was a little unfair to say someone has an eating disorder when they don’t," the 28-year-old says in the March issue of UK Marie Claire Magazine. “It’s extremely insulting and irresponsible. An eating disorder is serious, and it’s a disease.”
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Richie, who is back to looking very fit after having two kids with boyfriend Joel Madden -- told the magazine her celeb status has always had others questioning her body image.
“When I was heavier, everyone said I was too heavy," she told the magazine. "You can't win in the public eye, and I find it really hard. So I ignore it now, I really do."
She said "the only time it bothered me was when I was in a store trying on shoes and these girls came up to me -- they were probably like 13 or 14 -- and their mother came over and said ‘Are you taking care of yourself, because my girls think that you're not.' That was upsetting.”
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Next up for Richie: the mother-of-two will act and produce an ABC series in which she stars as a working woman juggling her family and love life.