Nicole Richie's thin excuse

Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie, socialite and star of the reality show The Simple Life, has rebuffed critics who say she's too thin to be healthy.

Richie, 24, daughter of musician Lionel Richie, says her stick-thin figure is attributable to long hours of work.

"Am I thin? Yes, no doubt about it. But to say I'm on the verge of death is just untrue.

"My family get really upset to see people writing these lies about their child.

"Do they ask me about it? No, because they know that I eat."

Former friend Paris Hilton said of Richie this week: "She looks horrible. She was the funniest, coolest person and then she let the fame go to her head."