Nicole Richie Calls off Engagement

By: Shannon Gossage

Richie’s rep Cindy Guagenti released a statement saying, "They have decided to break off [the] engagement. The decision is mutual." Richie, 24, and Goldstein, 32, announced their engagement last February after a year of dating. Sources say that the break-up has been brewing for several weeks now despite recent tabloid reports that they were ready to move into a "trendy West Hollywood condo with plenty of room for them to grow into it as a family." Earlier this year, Richie said of her planned nuptials, ''I'm so happy. We're taking it slowly.'' No official reason has been given for the split.

Richie just released a novel, signed for a sitcom deal, and is set to begin filming the fourth installment of The Simple Life. Those things should keep her busy and her mind off the split. There was a time when a fourth installment of the show seemed impossible since Richie and co-star (and ex-best friend) Hilton have been locked in a bitter feud for the past year or so. FOX dropped the reality show, but E! Entertainment Television subsequently picked it up and the show is slated to debut next spring.

The show is being dubbed "Till Death Do Us Part" and is genius in its ability to keep Richie and Hilton apart. The premise will have the girls taking turns playing a "wife" to a different family each week. Each girl will have a chance at running a household and each week the family involved will decide which one did the better job. That could cause some friction if one of the girls is a better "wife" week after week.