The soap-opera like goings-on surrounding Lionel Richie's split from wife Diane – who said in divorce papers that her lifestyle costs $300,000 a month – has been taken up a step by the singer's famous daughter, A Simple Life star Nicole Richie.
Nicole, who was adopted by the All Night Long star during his previous marriage, has gained fame for her indulgent ways, thanks to her co-starring role alongside Paris Hilton in the US reality TV hit. And the famously feisty socialite came out swinging after an unidentified source told a New York newspaper that Diane wanted her own children, Miles, nine, and five-year-old Sofia "to be raised normally, not like Nicole".
In light of her stepmother's divorce filing – in which Diane described an "extraordinarily extravagant lifestyle" from a $40-million home to $20,000 a year for plastic surgery – Nicole responded: "If you want a normal life, go get a… job and stop asking for $300,000 a month."
Lionel, who has said it was "impossible" that his wife would expect such maintenance, told chat show host Michael Parkinson that he'd spoken to Diane after hearing reports about her claim. "I did call her on the phone when I read this and said, 'That's a lot of money'."