Nicole confirms the worst-kept secret in Hollywood.
Is she, or isn’t she?
And could it even be physically possible?
In the tabloid saga of Nicole Richie, one strange story would stand out from the rest… and it would become one of the few to actually be true.
In between the weekly covers highlighting protruding bones and a new, shrinking weight, the Enquirer would bizarrely allege that the hard-partying starlet was actually with child.
Really?
Amidst the frenzy surrounding the reality star’s disastrous Memorial Day weekend, a shot of Richie barefoot and outfitted in a baggy orange dress would spearhead a rumor that would last through the summer… but not everybody was convinced.
While some gossip site commenters simply responded, “I don’t see it,” another shot back: “She probably ate a raisin and bloated.” But unlike most Tinseltown rumors, Nicole’s supposed baby bump would only grow with the coming weeks - and one by one, the nonbelievers would start changing their tune.
Just as fast as the baby buzz began, Richie would add fuel to the fire with a May 30th appearance at a Beverly Hills reproductive clinic.
After an hourlong visit, a smiling Nicole exited the office in the company of an employee, and cameras eagerly snapped away.
As blogs reported the surprise sighting, the rumor mill would switch into high-gear, and the once ludicrous Enquirer headline would become fact.
“She refused all alcohol,” Page Six claimed of a YSL party cameo, meanwhile In Touch buzzed about a quiet trip to a Glendale Barnes & Noble where Richie and rumored baby daddy Joel Madden lurked the children’s section.
And as the sightings mounted, the onetime paparazzi magnet would begin to shy away from cameras, strategically shielding herself with everything from designer totes to a pillow.
But when, if ever, would The Simple Life star break her silence? Or at least fill in dad Lionel Richie?
As June came to a close and July entered full swing, the rumors would hit an all-time high.
Less than a week into the new month, In Touch and TMZ would publish independent confirmations of the news:
And Us Weekly would quickly jump on the baby train with a cover story of their own:
But as the media circus surrounding the party girl’s pregnancy continued, the subject of it all stayed surprisingly quiet.
It seemed like just yesterday Richie was staggering outside Winston’s, or sending expletive-laced Blackberry messages from the confines of Hyde, but now the starlet had gone into hiding, quietly surfacing in cities across America with Good Charlotte - but she wouldn’t leave L.A. without a bang.
Days before hitting the road with her boyfriend’s band, Nicole set gossip sites abuzz… again - this time by reportedly stopping by a Brentwood baby boutique: Petit Tresor.
But as fast as the media hopped on the supposed July 10th sighting, Joel fired back with a MySpace blog:
And then it was back to radio silence.
As the couple took their show on the road, speculation continued to build. While TMZ anticipated Richie’s looming DUI trial, Star wondered whether or not Nicole’s baby could stand a chance - considering mommy dearest’s wild past, and the Enquirer went as far to question whether or not Joel was even the father, throwing Brody Jenner, Steve-O, and DJ AM into the possible paternity ring.
But while Richie wouldn’t have to answer to the tabloids, she’d still have to face the law.
After countless delays, it was finally time for Nicole’s long-awaited court hearing.
As the starlet faced a judge over her 2006 arrest, Madden stood right by her side, and they were finally ready to tell all.
In between the buzz about the party girl’s sentencing, ABC confirmed that Richie was set to sit down with Diane Sawyer to answer all of our burning questions… and finally put an end to the summer of speculation.
While the three-part special was set to air on Good Morning America and 20/20 the following week, the network released a preview of the interview on July 31st, confirming what everybody already knew: Yes, she’s pregnant.
Facing the cameras alongside Joel, Nicole revealed she was four months along… and now completely drug-free:
And when slammed with questions about her troubled past, Richie responded that she’d finally put it all behind her and wanted to set a good example for her baby-to-be.
But Sawyer wouldn’t be the only one scoring a scoop, the same day the interview preview was released, OK! gave the Internet a peek at their next cover story - an exclusive chat with Nicole about her sentencing and impending motherhood:
Inside, the starlet dished on everything from her looming stint in the slammer to a possible wedding, but readers - along with the rest of the celebrity-obsessed public - were left wondering: Has the future mother really changed her ways?
Only time would tell!
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