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Lionel Richie: 'Nicole and Joel Madden divorce rumors completely untrue'

Written by . Published: June 10 2015

Lionel Richie has moved to silence rumors of an impending split between his daughter Nicole Richie and her rocker husband Joel Madden, insisting the speculation is "completely untrue".


The Good Charlotte star and reality TV regular Richie, who tied the knot in 2010, hit headlines recently amid reports suggesting they are heading for divorce.


While Madden previously brushed off the gossip by praising his "best friend" Richie in celebration of Mother's Day in May (15), the rumors began swirling again just a few weeks later when it was reported the couple had listed its Los Angeles home.


But Nicole's singer dad has now spoken out to dismiss the separation talk, telling Hello! magazine that his daughter and son-in-law are simply moving to a new house.


He says, "It's completely untrue. They've bought a new house and the moving van was pulling up at their old house to move to the new one. Hence the story they are breaking up.


"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 their new yard and their new pool."


The All Night Long hitmaker even reveals he confronted his daughter about the divorce speculation.


He recalls, "(I said), 'Aren't you going to clear the rumors up?' 'Nah, it's OK,' she said... She's a seasoned Richie.


"But, as I said to Nicole, 'Rumours you don't worry about. It's when they print something and it's true you need to worry.'"

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