Joel Madden on Nicole: ‘She’s a wonderful mother’
Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden had a busy weekend — besides Grammy events he attended on Saturday and Sunday nights, he also flew to Las Vegas on Friday evening to DJ at Prive, after the nightclub agreed to donate all door proceeds to the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation. However, it also meant the first night away from Nicole Richie, 26, and their daughter, Harlow Winter Kate, 4 weeks.
It’s really hard being away from her. I think after havingHarlow we are already in love with being parents. It’s coolto watch Harlow with Nicole because they already have a real specialbond. It’s cute. I have my own little bond with her too.
Joel reveals that for now, baby Harlow is "definitely a mama’s girl" — mostly because she knows Nicole provides the meals!
Right now she needs mombecause all she does is eat. I have a feeling that when she startstalking she’s going to be a daddy’s girl.
Although Harlow is the main focus in his life, that doesn’t mean Joel, 28, has forgotten about Nicole — in fact, he’s now even more besotted.
She’s a wonderful mother and she looks really hot already. The girl is gifted, man. Women hate her because she looks goodbeing pregnant and then has the baby and looks sexy. There’s somethingso attractive about her now. It’s a motherly glow.
Source: People
- Posted on Feb 11, 08 at 7:16PM
- Permalink
- 52 Comments
February 11th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Umm, I wasn’t aware women hated her…but whatever makes you feel good, Joel. Hope Nicole and baby are well.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Megan, there were plenty of people who had only negative things to say. I know, I was one of them! But I’ve really come to like her over the course of the pregnancy, and because I’m a crunchy mama I was thrilled to hear about her vaginal birth and that she’s nursing. So I’m on her side now.
But I know there were plenty of people who had nothing but crap to say in the early months of the pregnancy, and there’s a few who carried into this week – just go find the post of them buying diapers!
February 11th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
“She’s gifted?” Wow, didn’t realise that not eating qualifies you as ‘gifted’.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Megan I don’t think Joel meant HATE her in that sense–I think he means like a joke how we all say oh i hate her for looking so good…almost a humorous jealousy…
It’s wonderful to see Joel gush about his girls…I am so excited to see Harlow, no doubt she is gorgeous and it seems like Joel and Nicole are just completely in love with her.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Joel,
If you are reading this, we like Nicole, for the most part. Yes. We like her. We think that she’s beautiful.
Sure, there will be the occasional critque. But, its all within the margin of error, allowed for celebrities. She actually gets fewer hits of negativity on other boards, relative to her celebrity status.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
if i hated her (and i don’t), it’d be coz she has him. what a sweet guy. i didn’t know anything about him before they got together (cept that his bro is with sophie monk), but he seems really decent. glad everything is going well.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Pam: The people who had negative things to say about her made comments that have nothing to do with her looks. That is not why people had a problem with her. In the beginning there were those who were concerned about her wild ways and how that would mesh with parenthood. And then there were some who made comments that she was out without the baby a lot (I personally don’t see anything wrong with parents taking a break now and then). I don’t believe for a second that those comments were made because Nicole is thin. They had to do all with her actions and not at all with her appearance. I think it’s such a cop-out when people claim that others dislike them because of their looks (particularly in this case where her looks are just average) instead of taking an honest look at oneself and realizing that maybe people have a problem with them because of their actions.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I know what he means. You can just go to TMZ or x17online, and you’ll see the hateful comments they post about Nicole.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I think what Joel is referring to is the criticisms not necessary from CBB (although its here also.) but from other celebrity blogs websites and tabloids magazines that criticized her for not gaining enough weight or rather trying to gain only the least amount as possible and working out during her pregnancy and post pregnancy its now “she’s already starving herself back to a size zero”….”Dropping all the baby weight so fast is not healthy…” etc
I think its just frustration, as in that hey we are new parents happy and healthy, stop talking negative things about my girlfriend just because she looked really cute pregnant and even cuter post pregnancy.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Hey Fan,
You forgot to add, the morbid things some people posted as comments on the blogs and pictures Joel posts on his DCMA website.
Its sickening, i hope they don’t read that stuff
February 11th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Emily, I think your comments regarding Nicole were out of line. Nicole is above average looking in my opinion. Some people are so JEALOUS of others! I bet Harlow is as beautiful as her mom.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I think Emily somewhat proves Joel’s point.
Its Like some people are always nip picking on everything about her and anything she does.
Joel is just standing up for his girl. As sad as it is, most likely, guys would tell Joel, Wow, your girl looks good for 9 months pregnant or whatever and some “women” for whatever reason, will go “the weight loss is not natural” or “just because she is pregnant lets not forget she was an addict” or whatever people that live in the past wanna bring up. sad as it is, its mostly women criticizing.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Helen, I agree with you 100%. That is exactly what Joel was talking about.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
wow you can’t be critical without being jealous? that’s just silly. it sounded to me like emily was suggesting the types of criticisms that have come up in the past. i’ll admit when i first heard that she was pregnant, stuff i’ve read about her weight and partying crossed my mind, but she seemed to be really serious and responsible about her pregnancy which is great. yeah none of us know her, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an opinion based on what you’ve seen or what you think you know. people judge people (rightly or wrongly), we’re human and it’s just a fact of life.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I think it’s funny that so many women have gone to Nicole is a train wreck (pre-pregnancy) to awwee she is such a wonderful mother. People will always have their opinions but I find it weird that people feel free to make comments such as “she is a wonderful mother” although she has only been a mother for one month or “she is just a drug addict” when neither person knows what goes on in her everyday life. It appears that these celebrities are good mothers but all we have is their interviews and paparazzi pics. All I’m saying is no one should be making assessments of someone they don’t know personally whether it be their personality or parenting skills for all we know one of these celeb kids may come out with another “Mommy Dearest”.
Pam would you have liked her less if she had a C-section or decided not to nurse? Would you have still been calling her names if she never got pregnant?
February 12th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I can understand Joel’s comments. I’ve been naturally thin all my life, and can eat whatever I want without putting on weight, and have often been the subject of snide remarks from other women who would like to believe that I have an eating disorder or that I must deprive myself of food in order to stay slim. I think women can be other women’s worst enemy sometimes, which is sad…
Of course, Nicole is a bit different, as she’s made comments in the past alluding to having an eating disorder, but she certainly appeared to be doing her best to stay healthy during her pregnancy, and she doesn’t appear to have lost a ‘dramatic’ amount of weight since the birth – she just looks healthy and beautiful, and I’m sure that probably does irritate a lot of women!
In any case, it sounds like they’re very loved up and happy with their new life, and I for one wish them all the best, and am very pleased for them.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:42 am
zaraB- Actually, in the interview where she first announced her pregnancy (or possibly one soon after), Nicole stated that she has never had an eating disorder. That said, I completely agree with the rest of your comment!
February 12th, 2008 at 2:35 am
the term is “nit picking”
February 12th, 2008 at 2:47 am
I agree with mn, voicing concern does not equal jealousy. I was never jealous of Nicole Richie but I was concerned because not only had she been arrested for DUI shortly before announcing her pregnancy, there was that picture of her barefoot in a grocery store parking lot in that orange dress. She must have weighed about 85 lbs, with a small belly, shopping for some party (labor day, maybe? I dont remember, but it was when Mischa Barton was taken to the hospital, and Nicole had sent out invitations sarcastically saying only skinny girls could come) Anyways, it came out later that she was pregnant that day, and I remember wondering whether or not she had been taking vicodin (like during her DUI), smoking marijuana, or drinking alcohol. I wasn’t jealous, I was honestly concerned for the child. The fact that people have mentioned that she was not always thought of as matronly does not make them jealous, it makes them reasonable.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:40 am
I agree with you LolaCola, and I’d also like to add that, while I’m sure Joel’s comments were made with the best intentions, how can that kind of statement not grate on the nerves of the average new mother who doesn’t have access to personal trainers, chefs, designer clothes, makeup artists, stylists, nannies etc, and is feeling overweight and overtired??!! I had my baby two weeks before Nicole and Joel had Harlow and believe me, there is no dressing up and getting made up and looking fabulous and going out to events in my life… I’m lucky to brush my teeth in the morning, LOL. Seriously, though, it’s an insult to women everywhere to assume they “hate” Nicole because she’s lost her baby weight. WHO CARES?!
February 12th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I can see where Joel is coming from, but I think it’s silly to suggest that all criticism stems from jealousy.
I am not that familiar with Nicole, but having seen ‘The Simple Life’, my impression was that both her and Paris were spoilt little brats, nothing to do with her looks at all.
She seems to have turned herself round, from what we know of her, but who knows what kind of parent she is/isn’t? Hopefully she will stay clean and healthy, and I couldn’t care less what weight she is as long as she’s looking after herself!
I gave up comparing my (normal) post-baby-body to celebs’ long ago because we mere mortals simply don’t have the time or the resources to ‘compete’ as it were. It doesn’t make me hate them though!
February 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
We shouldn’t hold Nicole’s past against her, those days are gone now and Harlow is her future.
LolaCola I completely understand what you mean we don’t know anything about what goes on behind closed doors we are purely making assumptions on events occuring in the public eye.
That said though it’s difficult not to have your heart melted by the quotes we’ve been reading. Nicole, Joel and Harlow seem blissfully happy and I wish them all the best for the future.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
“Pam would you have liked her less if she had a C-section or decided not to nurse? Would you have still been calling her names if she never got pregnant?”
Not particularly like her less, but I find myself relating to her/enjoying articles more because we seem to share the same ideas about childbirth and parenting.
I didn’t call her names, but I was definitely unsure when she announced her pregnancy, and was concerned as Jenn mentioned above, which I expressed here initially.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I’ll bet Joel was just using a phrase, “women hate her …” to express how proud he is of his great looking baby mama. I doubt he put even an ounce of the thought into it that everyone is crediting him for–or that we are expending on his comment.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Danica: I’ve been to other meaner websites that made mean comments about Nicole and her weight. But the ironic thing about it is that those websites are almost all run by men and yet women are the ones who are getting blamed for hating her.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
“Emily, I think your comments regarding Nicole were out of line. Nicole is above average looking in my opinion. Some people are so JEALOUS of others!”
LALA: I went back and reviewed my post to find the spot where I was so “out of line” and there wasn’t any. I did not say I thought she was ugly. I said I thought she was average looking, meaning that I think she looks like the average people I see all around me. Now maybe you think it’s an insult to say someone looks like everyone else, but I don’t. And just because you think she is above average or gorgeous does not mean I have to agree. I just think she looks like any person I would see at the mall, there’s nothing insulting about saying that. I don’t worship celebrities to the point where I think everything they do and say and how they look is wonderful all the time. There are some celebrities that I think I really, really attractive in an above-average sort of way – and then there is a whole other group of celebrities that the media claims are stunning simply because they are famous. And I don’t buy into all that garbage, I think a person is as nice or attractive or talented as they are and becoming rich and famous does not instantly make me think more or less of them than before – they simply are who and what they’ve always been.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am
We all make mistakes, no one is perfect. She has made some in the past but it looks like she may be trying to turn it around.
I don’t think Joel means hate in the literal sense – hate on is an expression which means jealous of…
And I for one think Nicole’s looks are way above average. She’s truly beautiful.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I love Nicole- I think she is going to be a great mom (I’m sure she is already
) I think Joel’s doting remarks are adorable. Sounds like he is the leader of the Nicole/Harlow fan club!! I bet Nicole gets a little embarrassed when Joel talks about her like that- she probably doesn’t feel as beautiful as Joel says she is. So cute!
February 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
First of all, Joel IS supposed to say those things about Nicole because that is his partner. It doesn’t matter how “Average looking” (Which i find ridiculous by the way) you might think Nicole looks. The fact is that Joel sees her as the most beautiful. Any one that has children here will tell you that, Any good relationship gets better after you bear your husband or boyfriend’s child. You become almost like super woman with the things that her body goes through and I’m sure Joel sees her differently in that sense, i.e more beautiful.
While maybe before getting all dolled up might have made her look Sexy, now it seems like doing “motherly” things make her look sexy.
With that said, those celebrity sites are run by Men but the nasty comments are posted by women. thats the sad fact. I’m not talking about perez that says nasty things about everything. I’m talking about sites like JustJared, that are very tame and complimentary of everybody until you read the comments that people have.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Its been really interesting reading these comments because they kind of speak for themselves. LOL
In my personal opinion, Nicole was absolutely the cutest, most gorgeous pregnant woman i have ever seen. She made pregnancy seem so beautiful with the way she carried herself and dressed herself….just her whole conduct made a lot of people fall in love with her or at least not hate her as much. I can’t imagine the effect that had on Joel who was already in love with her.
Secondly, I just want to say something about Nicole’s past issues. I have a different opinion about her because i knew her through Lionel and learnt of her problems from his view. There is an article i read once when he was talking about the lows of his life and he mentions something about having a child that is sad and doesn’t know where she fits in is very difficult because its all trial and error and you can’t fix that kind of problem with all the money in the world. I know a lot of people see nicole as this bad wild child but just based on that article i saw a person with severe abandonment issues that was very unhappy and Lionel giving her everything in the world could not fix that.
Some Adopted children grow up in amazing homes and still want to find their birth parents. Nicole knows both her birth parents. She has gone on record that birth father never acknowledged her, still hasn’t. And she never speaks about her birth mom. Yes, she does the “they are all friends routine”. But getting adopted at a self aware age of 3 is not an easy thing. And everyone knows that all your childhood issues only get magnified as an adult. Anyway the point is its really great to see her so happy with a great guy that seems so loving and protective of her.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Sadie, obviously someone cares, if not they would not be on a baby site giving their opinion. People are killing me here. They make comments on celebs life everyday, and when the celeb shoots back with their comments (defense) people get upset. GIMME A BREAK! Joel did what everyone of us do when we make an observation. Not nice, huh?
February 12th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I’ve read awful comments on this site and other sites regarding Nicole’s weight pre-pregnancy, pregnant, and now post-partum. Usually they are thinly-veiled insults disguised as concern. No one is harder on women than other women. I agree with Joel. A lot of people, particularly women are drinking the Haterade. I thought Nicole looked great pregnant and now she and Christina are “da bomb” post-pregnancy. I always thought Nicole is an interesting beauty. I didn’t watch Simple Life, but I remember her from Lionel’s Ballerina Girl video and I thought she was stunning then as a tween.
My husband and I are trying to conceive and while I may be a mere mortal, seeing how great these celebrities look pregnant and post-pregnancy has inspired me to 1-get into better shape pre-pregnancy, 2-invest in at least two pregnant outfits that make me feel sexy and 3-barring a serious medical condition, continue to exercise through-out my pregnancy. And none of this takes goo-gobs of money or an army of stylists.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
“With that said, those celebrity sites are run by Men but the nasty comments are posted by women. thats the sad fact.”
I disagree. I see a mix of the negative comments coming from men and women on the six or seven different sites I go to.
I also know from my own experience of being incredibly thin (mine was due to an undiagnosed health problem, but that’s another story) that the negative comments I got were from an equal mix of men and women. And I don’t for one second believe that any of those people were jealous of me, almost all of those were truly concerned that I might have an eating disorder (which is a very reasonable concern in today’s culture) and they were just struggling to figure out the right way to express that concern.
“Average looking” (Which i find ridiculous by the way) you might think Nicole looks.” –
What’s ridiculous about me having a different opinion from you? Standards of beauty are subjective, so why is it so odd to so many on here that I might not think someone is above average.
And I never said I had a problem with Joel finding her hot. I think it’s really nice that he finds her so attractive. I just don’t see why he has to make broad generalities about entire groups of people (most of whom he doesn’t even know) in order to express admiration for her.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’m reading through all of these comments and I think it’s really startling that there are people who are all up in arms because there is a poster or two who just doesn’t happen to think Nicole is stunning. The comments policy on this site is that no one is allowed to insult celebrities – and I don’t see anyone in this thread insulting Nicole. I didn’t notice any stipulation in the comments section that says you must worship all celebrities discussed here and find every one of them stunning and think every little thing they do is sheer perfection. Good grief, there are a few celebrities that I find above average in looks and the rest of them all seem to be average looking people who just have more expensive clothes. It’s not wrong for a person to not fall all over a celebrity and shower them with compliments. Some people just don’t buy into the Hollywood hoopla that celebs are better (better looking, better mothers, better people) than non-celebs. And it’s our right to feel that way.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I think its really sweet that Joel is defending Nicole.
I guess i’m the only more more concerned about her getting pregnant too soon again. With Joel using the word gift, hot and sexy.
ok i’ll stop!
but they are just too cute for words!
February 12th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Emily,
I think that you have proven HIS point. Thank you, we don’t need any clarification about why people “hate her” because you have done more than enough hating for the lot. On a brighter note, I’m so happy for her to have such a wonderful guy in her life. He seems so genuine and so in love with her-it is a beautiful thing.
Nicole is incredibly witty and looks absolutely gorgeous.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Annie: Please point to the place in my posts where I said anything hateful about Nicole?
Oh, wait, there isn’t anything. The only people on this thread who have said anything insulting are the people who have been hurling hostility at me – and all for the grave sin (LOL) of not holding Nicole in higher esteem than I find my fellow non-celebs.
I said she was average looking. Perhaps you think the average person is so awful looking that being average is an isult, but I do not. Apparently I have a higher opinion of the average person than you do.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I am “hating”….. on that boyfriend of hers! Joel is so sweet, he reminds me of my guy, lol! My husband said the same thing to me before,after pregnancy, and now! That women want to look like me and other men wish they were him, because he is so lucky to have me. I think that’s what any normal guy in love would say about his girlfriend/ wife. Sweet! I LOVE this couple, can’t wait to see Harlow Winter Kate!
February 12th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I agree with you Sasha, and Emily, you don’t have to keep explaining yourself about your comments. Reading the comments directed toward you, I’m a little confused at what you said to stir such comments. To be honest, I’m a little scared of people who go crazy, praising celebs treating them like the end all be all. It’s sad that one person can’t have the opinion that someone is “ok” without others having a welcome field day of belittling her in turn. Hang in there Emily.
This is just ridiculous. There is so much nit picking in this forum that someone actually corrected someone above regarding the term being called ‘NIT picking’ and not ‘NIP picking’. Seriously? I understand posting this stuff to get people to react and whatnot but wow…
February 12th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Jen: Thank you so much for saying that.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
i don’t have any real opinion about nicole – she seems ok to me. seems like she’s got things together and is trying to sort out her life – that’s a really good thing. that said, i also find her “average looking” – i’m only saying this because i wanted emily to know she wasn’t the only one. and i’m not jealous or a “hater”. she’s like paris – an average looking girl with great hair extensions, a makeup artist and fantastic clothes. this is merely an observation and my opinion. and i can honestly say that (being an average looking girl myself) if i could have fabulous hair extensions, a makeup artist on call and fantastic designer clothes, i’d be one happy girl
February 12th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Emily, there is no need to keep explaining yourself (though I certainly understand why you feel the need to with this bunch). Any objective outsider reading your comments understands exactly what you meant, and if you haven’t learned this already, you will soon discover that to many readers here, any opinion differing from their own is simply unacceptable in their own little worlds. Ignore them; their comments speak for themselves.
The thought that the people posting here are grown women is just embarrassing considering that many are acting like spoiled twelve-year-olds whining that their parents have made a decision they dislike. Grow up, face the fact that not everyone worships all celebrities and the ground they walk on, and move on with your lives.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Emily; I agree with you too! x
February 13th, 2008 at 11:12 am
After reading all these comments, I totally understand what Joel is talking about.
He seems like a really sweet guy. she is one lucky girl. i’m glad they found each other.
Can’t wait to see baby Harlow!
February 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am
“She’s a wonderful mother and she looks really hot already. The girl is gifted, man. Women hate her because she looks good being pregnant and then has the baby and looks sexy.”
Sounds like the talk of a teenage boy.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH BECKY AND MEGAN. WHATEVER MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD, JOEL.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
“After reading all these comments, I totally understand what Joel is talking about.”
Really? Because I’ve read through all of these posts and I haven’t seen one person say anything insulting about Nicole. I’ve seen a few people who don’t worship the ground she walks on, but that’s hardly the same thing as insulting someone. It’s kind of childish to accuse someone of being jealous of Nicole just because they don’t happen to think she’s any better than the rest of us. Some people just don’t worship celebrities the way that others do. So I’m still unsure why Joel said what he said. I guess some people just want to believe that other people are jealous of them.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Hello Rebecca.
I said I understand what Joel is talking about. meaning me, myself….I understand. You don’t have to understand my line of thinking and i don’t expect you to.
A guy is saying how hot and sexy his girlfriend is and some people are responding that she is average looking at best. Beauty is subjective, so what Joel likes is different from what I like which is different from what you would like.
I just found it interesting that that what some people jumped on of all the comments he made was that part.
And finally, just because i agree with Joel and understand what he means doesn’t mean i worship celebrities or I think Nicole is the greatest person.
A great example is Giselle, she is the highest paid supermodel in the world, yet there are people that don’t think she’s pretty or find anything about her attractive. My point is it doesn’t matter, the industry she is in thinks she is worthy of all the millions, her man probably thinks she is the hottest girl ever! whatever. The point is if he was to read what people were saying about her, it will come off as Jealousy (even if it isn’t) because he sees perfection and doesn’t understand how anyone would see anything less.
In conclusion: I AGREE with Joel.
the end.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Pat: I understood what your post meant the first time. My point was that Joel should be mature enough to realize that not everyone will see things the way he does. I think it’s childish that he would think people are jealous of her just for not worshiping her the way he does (the childish comment was directed towards Joel’s comment and not your post) – and the end part of my post was more of a response to the overall tone of the posts in this thread (with some posters acting like there’s only two ways to think of Nicole: to either worship her and thinks he’s perfection or to hate her and think she’s ugly – there are tons of people in between who either don’t care one way or the other or who think she’s not any better or worse than the rest of us, and apparently some posters feel that’s wrong to think Nicole is no better than us). Sorry if my post was unclear and seemed to be aimed solely at you, it wasn’t.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I don’t care about this couple either which way. I think hate was probably a poor choice of words. It rubbed me the wrong way and I don’t even care about them.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Hey Joel! I’m Whitnie! The only time I have ever seen you was when you came down to Metarie for Mardi Gras! And you & Benji pointed at me because I was the wildest person in the crowd! Good luck with the baby! And, Hillary Duff is a good person but I definitely LOVE seeing you and Nicole so in love!
October 7th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Personally, I like Nicole. But whether we like her or not, I’m sure we can agree on texting CHILD to 90999 to donate to her and Joel’s children’s foundation!!!!
October 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Personally, I like Nicole. But whether we like her or not, I think we can all agree to donate $5 to her and Joel’s children’s foundation by texting CHILD to 90999!!!