Nicole Richie Slams "Absurd" Gastric Band Reports Again  11/17/06

Nicole Richie has launched a scathing attack on the reporters who accused her of having gastric band surgery, calling their claims "absurd".

Earlier this week (begs13NOV06), the New York Post published a story claiming an unnamed "Hollywood starlet" underwent gastric surgery and then had the procedure reversed, and subsequent reports have identified The Simple Life star as the person in question.

Despite her publicist blasting the reports yesterday (15NOV06), Richie has waded into the controversy herself, accusing the press of trying to blight her attempts to gain weight.

She says, "So I gain a little bit of weight, and I'm accused of having a gastric bypass surgery reversed? It's pathetic to insinuate I have done this.

"Anyone that knows anything about this surgery would know that legally, you must be at least 100 pounds overweight to even have the surgery done, and is a serious, life-changing procedure; not one to throw around as a joke or a rumor.

"I've given a statement I am in the process of putting on weight, and that should be enough. Its a shame to hear that instead of hearing supportive words, someone needs to spin it in some negative, absurd way."