Nicky Hilton turned down an opportunity to star in “The Simple Life” alongside her sister, Paris Hilton, leaving the door open for producers to cast Nicole Richie.
On the 20th anniversary of the reality show’s premiere, a source tells Page Six exclusively that the reason Nicky never signed up for it is because she’s “anti-reality TV.”
“They’ve always asked her, and she’s always passed,” the insider says, noting how, even to this day, the socialite rarely makes appearances in unscripted series despite her mom, Kathy Hilton, being cast on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and Paris having her own show on Peacock.
“The only reason why she films ‘Paris in Love’ is because it’s more controlled,” the source tells us.
“Nothing would run that would make her look bad.”
The insider also points out that Nicky, 40, was “never the wild child,” so Richie, 42, was ultimately the better fit.
Paris, also 42, recalled in her self-titled memoir how her younger sister first reacted to “The Simple Life,” which followed two wealthy heiresses who temporarily moved to a farm in middle America.
“‘Don’t be insane,’” the “Stars Are Blind” singer said Nicky told her at the time. “‘You’ll embarrass yourself.’”
“The Simple Life” became an instant success following its premiere on Fox on Dec. 2, 2003, and is still referenced as an iconic piece of pop culture to this day.
Our source tell us that Nicky, like Paris, was part of Richie’s friend group, so there are no hard feelings.
The handbag designer is also “very happy” that her older sister has built a successful empire that has lasted decades after the show.
However, Nicky — who married British banking heir James Rothschild in 2015 and shares three children with him — has not changed her opinion of reality television in recent years.
In October 2022, amid her mother Kathy’s feud with Lisa Rinna on Season 12 of “RHOBH,” the fashion entrepreneur slammed the Bravo series for being “mean-spirited” and “negative.”
For more Page Six you love …
“I used to love the lightheartedness and escapism of the program,” she told E! News at the time, “but I feel like, recently, it’s become a bit mean-spirited and negative.”
Nicky added, “When I watch one of those shows, I want to laugh. I don’t want to be sad. So, hopefully, they could be a little kinder.”
Paris, for her part, still holds dear memories of her time on “The Simple Life” and recently revealed on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” that she and Richie have plans to commemorate its milestone anniversary.
The “Nothing in this World” singer shared Wednesday, “Nicole and I have been talking, so we have some surprises in store. I can’t believe it’s going to be the 20-year anniversary. It’s so crazy.”
Kathy, who was also a guest on the talk show, then chimed in, “It seems like yesterday.”