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Dad to the rescue!After a rumor that Nicole Richie was splitting from husband JoelMadden began to circulate, the jewelry designer's father Lionel Richie has now set the record straight. “It’s completely untrue,” Lionel tells HELLO!
Speculation of a breakup came after movers were spotted at the couple's home in the Hollywood Hills. “They’ve bought a new house and themoving van was pulling up at their old house to move to the new one," the legendary singer explains. "Hence the story they are breaking up."
Lionel Richie said divorce rumors about his daughter Nicole are "untrue" Photo: Getty Images
Nicole and Joel have two children together, Harlow, 7, and Sparrow, 5, and life in their household couldn't seem happier, according toLionel. “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 theirnew yard and their new pool," he said.
But, thefather-daughter-duo did discuss the breakup talk during their visit. He recalls: "‘Aren’tyou going to clear [the rumors] up?’ I asked Nicole. ‘Nah, it’s okay,’ shesaid."
"She’s a seasoned Richie,” he continues in the interview, given ahead of his June 25 performance at London's prestigious Butterfly Ball event held by charity Caudwell Children, which supports disabled children andtheir families. “But, as I said to Nicole, ‘Rumor you don’t worry about. It’swhen they print something and it’s true you need to worry.’”
Lionel is set to perform at at the prestigious Butterfly Ball event held by charity Caudwell Children Photo: Getty Images
Nicole, 33, and Joel, 36, who married at Lionel’s Bel Air mansion in 2010, may not bespeaking out against the rumors, but were recently seen walking hand-in-hand to a U2 concert held in Los Angeles.
Read the full story in this week's HELLO! magazine, available now via digital download or, this Friday at all Barnes & Noble stores and selected newsstands.