LIONEL RICHIE - RICHIE 'HURT' BY DAUGHTER'S ANOREXIA REPORTS

Soul star LIONEL RICHIE is deeply "hurt" by continuing reports his daughter NICOLE is suffering an eating disorder. The 57-year-old confesses the constant speculation surrounding THE SIMPLE LIFE star's dramatic weight loss is draining and unnecessary as he has already discussed the problem with Nicole. He tells Access Hollywood, "I'll be honest with you, it hurts me more than it hurts her. I must tell you, I'm the basket case." The singer adds of their previous chats about her eating, "What are fathers for if you can't point the finger every once in a while. "I think the good part of it is she is aware of it.... She has heard this all of her life from me, so this is just a continuation of the reminder." In the past the HELLO hitmaker has blamed himself for Nicole's alarming weight loss, claiming she is suffering from trauma and stress caused by his divorce.