Nicole Richie Blasts Gastric Bypass Rumors

Nicole Richie is denying speculation that she underwent gastric bypass surgery and then had the operation reversed.

Rumors began spreading this week after the New York Post ran a blind item claiming a "Hollywood starlet" had gastric bypass surgery – and then, after losing too much weight, went in to have the gastric band removed.

"It is not Nicole," her publicist tells PEOPLE. "There are a ton of 'Hollywood starlets.'"

Richie blogged about it yesterday on her myspace:

So i gain a little bit of weight, and im acussed of having a gastric bypass surgery reversed? Its pathetic of Page Six 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.

Ive 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 into some negative, absurd way

Nicole's either too fat, too thin, or she reversed a gastric bypass surgery?! Can't wait for her to make headlines for something more important - like banging Orlando Bloom, pulling a Shanna Moakler and hitting Parisite Hilton, or passing out on the dancefloor.

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