Simple Life 5 production delayed as Nicole Ritchie checks herself in to a treatment facility

Production on The Simple Life 5 has been delayed because co-star Nicole Richie is seeking help for her thinness.

Reuters reports that Nicole’s “admission to the unidentified facility has forced a delay in production of the latest installment of her popular TV reality show.”

And a spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television indicated that production had already begun, and would continue after Nicole leaves the facility. “We wish her a speedy recovery and fully expect the series will resume production at some point, hopefully in the near future,” Chris Alexander said.

In a statement, Nicole’s spokesperson insists that her rehabilitation, which was first reported by TVgasm late yesterday, is not because Nicole has an eating disorder: “She is working with a team of doctors and specialists whose focus is nutrition. It is important to Nicole that she achieves this goal in a healthy way as this is not a treatment for an eating disorder.”