close
close
vile83

The “Simple Life” family “refused” to film Paris and Nicole’s reunion

Umito
The “Simple Life” family “refused” to film Paris and Nicole’s reunion

It is not hot.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie reunited with the Leding family from season 1 of “The Simple Life” during filming their new Peacock rebootbut sources tell Page Six exclusively that the Arkansans wouldn’t appear on camera unless they got a huge payment.

We learn that Hilton and Richie, both 43, took a 1,500-mile flight by private jet from Los Angeles to the rural town of Altus in early August for a planned filming of “Paris & Nicole: The Encore.” with the Ledings, solely for the filming of “Paris & Nicole: The Encore”. family to give them a last minute ultimatum.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie didn’t reunite with the “Simple Life” family on camera for the series’ reboot. ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Ledings (seen here in 2004) “refused to shoot,” a source tells Page Six. Staff photographer
We hear the family (pictured here with Hilton and Richie in 2003) “tried to demand $1 million.” Twitter/ParisHilton

“They refused to film and tried to demand $1 million from the production,” says a source.

Peacock had no comment. Reps for Hilton and Richie did not respond to Page Six, nor did Albert and Janet Leding or their sons, Justin, Cayne and Braxton.

In Episode 1 of “The Encore,” which premiered Thursday, a producer informed Hilton and Richie while they were on their way to Arkansas that the Ledings would be “happy” to see them, but that ‘They couldn’t “get the cameras in”.

“The Simple Life” premiered in 2003 on Fox. Getty Images
It followed socialites (seen here in 2004) as they worked in low-paying jobs. WireImage
The series lasted five seasons. License/Merchandising 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

The producer didn’t explain why, although Richie was quick to defend the family’s privacy, telling Hilton aboard their plane: “It’s a lot with cameras in your face.” Either way, I just want to see them.

The reality stars’ time on The Natural State wasn’t a total failure, however, as they filmed scenes with Altus Mayor Veronica Post and some of their former bosses from “The Simple Life”.

The first season of the iconic show, which aired from 2003 to 2004 on Fox, saw Hilton and Richie move in with the Leding family for a month and take low-paying jobs at a dairy farm and a fast-food restaurant.

News broke in May that Hilton and Richie (seen here in July) were rebooting the reality show. parishlton/Instagram
They were photographed filming at a Sonic Drive-In in August. WireImage
“Paris & Nicole: The Encore” is now streaming on Peacock. Peacock

As recently as last year, Hilton revealed that she had always stayed in touch with Braxton, who was just 4 years old when he appeared on “The Simple Life.”

“The little boy is a lawyer now and we have been in contact. He’s so nice,” she said on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” in March 2023.

All three episodes of “Paris & Nicole: The Encore” are now streaming on Peacock.