Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie returned for The Simple Life reboot called Paris & Nicole: The Encore, but the family that appeared in the original series allegedly turned down the offer.
The Leding family reportedly “refused to film and tried to demand $1 million from production,” a source told Page Six in an article published on Friday, December 13. The outlet reported that Paris and Nicole, both 43, flew from Los Angeles to the rural town of Altus, Arkansas, in August for a scheduled shoot with the family, but things changed once they arrived. The insider claimed the Ledings refused to appear on camera unless they were paid the seven-figure sum.
When fans watched the first episode of Paris & Nicole: The Encore on Thursday, December 12, they saw producers break the news to the socialites while they were en route to Arkansas. Paris and Nicole were informed that while the Leding family would be “happy” to see them, they would not be allowed to “bring the cameras in.”
Nicole seemingly understood the family’s decision to opt out of being on camera.
“It is a lot with, like, cameras in your face,” she said to Paris. “Regardless of that, I do just want to see them.”
Rumors began to swirl earlier this year that the friends would be returning to reality TV, and in May, Paris confirmed the news via Instagram.
“New Era. Same Besties. Coming soon to Peacock,” the hotel heiress wrote alongside a teaser of Paris & Nicole: The Encore on May 13.
The following month, Paris opened up about how “excited” she was to work with her bestie again.
“We have been best friends since we were two years old. So many of my best and most fun memories are with her,” Paris told Us Weekly in an article published on June 11, 2024. “What we created together is so special and this is just going to be so iconic. I am so excited to do this for all the fans.”
Even though viewers weren’t privy to Paris and Nicole’s reunion with the Ledings, they did get to see them reunite with some of their former bosses from The Simple Life. Paris had previously spoken about her time filming the show in an exclusive interview with In Touch.
“I’m just having the best time, we’re spending so much time together traveling and we had a really special time going back to Arkansas together and seeing the family we stayed with, and all of the people that we worked with,” Paris said during the October 10 interview. “We were living in Arkansas for a month, and Nicole is the most hilarious person on the planet, so we were just laughing every second. It’s just been the best time ever.”
The Paris in Love alum also told In Touch about some special guests fans could expect to see in Paris & Nicole: The Encore.
“Phoenix and London are in it, as well as my husband and it was really fun to all be together, and to spend time together with Nicole and the babies,” Paris explained, referring to her two young children and husband, Carter Reum.
