Nicole Richie is opening up about one of her most terrifying encounters with the paparazzi, revealing how difficult it was for her to navigate the pressures of fame and maintain personal boundaries during the early years of her career.
On the December 11 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, the 43-year-old television personality and entrepreneur recalled the harrowing incident when she was involved in a car crash while being pursued by paparazzi. At the time, Richie had just become a mother to her son, Sparrow, who was only six weeks old. Thankfully, Sparrow was not in the car at the time of the crash.
“I was hospitalized. I got crashed into,” Richie said, explaining how the paparazzi’s relentless pursuit led to the accident. “My son was like 6 weeks old. [But] he was not in the car, thank God!”
Richie, who shot to fame in the early 2000s alongside her close friend Paris Hilton through their reality show The Simple Life, has long been open about her struggles with the pressures of being in the public eye. The incident underscores the dangers that celebrities often face due to the invasive nature of paparazzi culture, especially during a time when social media was just beginning to shape how celebrities were portrayed in the public eye.
Struggling to Set Boundaries in the Spotlight
When host Alex Cooper asked Richie how she felt about the attention she received during that period of her life, Richie reflected on the difficulty of establishing personal boundaries. She explained that she was still very young and inexperienced when it came to navigating the complexities of fame and privacy.
“It was very hard to implement any sort of boundaries because the world was not really acting like you deserved that at all,” she explained. “And I was so young and just didn’t know how to stand up for myself like that.”
Richie admitted that, at the time, she had a tendency to accept certain things—such as the invasive nature of the paparazzi—that she would never tolerate today. She believes this is a common experience for many people in their 20s, especially those who enter the public spotlight at a young age.
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“I accepted a lot more, which I think is very common for your 20s,” she said. “I had a tendency of accepting things that would never fly today.”
Richie’s vulnerability in discussing her past reflects how much her perspective on fame, privacy, and personal boundaries has evolved over the years. Now a mother of two, Richie shares her children—Sparrow, 14, and Harlow, 16—with her husband Joel Madden. She married the Good Charlotte musician in 2010.
The Revival of The Simple Life and Family Life Today
In addition to discussing her struggles with paparazzi, Richie also spoke about the revival of The Simple Life, the reality series that turned her and Hilton into household names in the early 2000s. The show, which originally aired from 2003 to 2007, followed Richie and Hilton as they traveled across the United States, picking up odd jobs and immersing themselves in different lifestyles. It quickly became a cultural phenomenon, making the two women famous for their unique brand of humor and their “fish out of water” antics.
More than 16 years after the show ended, Richie and Hilton are reuniting for a brand new television series. PEOPLE confirmed in May 2024 that the pair would be working together again on a project, although details remain scarce. The reunion has already generated significant buzz, with fans excited to see where the iconic duo will take their careers next.
Richie acknowledged the resurgence of The Simple Life in modern pop culture, particularly on TikTok, where the show has experienced a resurgence in popularity. However, she admitted that her two children are not particularly enthusiastic about the series.
“The Simple Life is apparently having a big moment on TikTok, so they do tell me that they watch clips on TikTok,” Richie said of her kids. “Their friends watch it. I get a lot of eye rolls in my house all the time. It’s right on brand with how they see me, in general.”
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Despite their lack of enthusiasm, Richie seems to find the situation humorous, embracing her kids’ eye rolls as part of the natural generational divide. As for her own relationship with the show, Richie has previously stated that she views The Simple Life as a fun chapter in her life that helped shape her career, but one she’s glad to have moved beyond.
Raising Kids in the Public Eye
Richie’s experience with the paparazzi and her role as a public figure have undoubtedly shaped how she approaches motherhood. Having been thrust into the spotlight at a young age, she is now more protective of her family’s privacy. Richie often speaks about the importance of setting boundaries with her children, especially as they get older and are more aware of the media attention surrounding their family.
Her journey from the chaotic early days of fame to the present day illustrates the personal growth that many celebrities go through as they navigate the pressures of the public eye. Richie has emerged as a more confident and self-assured individual, balancing her career, family life, and public persona with greater ease.
As she continues to evolve both personally and professionally, Richie remains an influential figure in entertainment. Whether it’s through her work with Hilton, her business ventures, or her candid discussions about her past, Richie’s journey serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with fame—and the resilience required to overcome them.
