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Nicole Richie Reacts to Hilary Duff’s ‘Mature’ Amid Joel Madden Speculation
Hilary Duff’s new song Mature has fans buzzing — and Nicole Richie just weighed in. The Candidly Nicole star showed her support for her friend’s latest single amid speculation that the lyrics reference Hilary’s past romance with Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden.
In a playful Instagram Story shared November 11, Nicole and Hilary — both dressed in black — lay on the grass holding hands and laughing hysterically. Tagging Hilary in the snap, Nicole wrote, “‘Mature’ is not the word I would use to describe us, but regardless, this song is a BOP.”
Rumors swirled that the song’s lyrics were inspired by Hilary’s relationship with Joel, whom she dated from 2004 to 2006 when she was 16 and he was 25. On the chorus, Hilary sings, “She looks like she could be your daughter / Like me before I got smarter. When I was flattered to hear you say / You’re so mature for your age.”
Fans quickly speculated online. One X user posted, “So, Hilary Duff fans, mature is about Joel Madden right?” Another added, “New Hilary Duff being a Joel Madden diss track is WILD.”
Hilary, however, hasn’t addressed the rumors directly. In a press release, she explained the real inspiration: “‘Mature’ is a little conversation that my present self is having with my younger self. The two of us are reflecting on a past experience and sending love to each other. It’s a chuckle, a wink, and a sense of being grateful that we are sure footed in where we landed.”
The track was co-written with her husband, Matthew Koma, and Madison Love. Despite speculation, Hilary has maintained that there’s no bad blood between her, Madden, and Richie. She previously noted on Watch What Happens Live in 2023 that she and Nicole are close: “We actually hang out all the time. I was just in her driveway honking her to come drink wine with us the other day.”
Hilary and Joel’s past relationship ended when she was 19 and he was 28, a nine-year age gap that’s hinted at in the song’s lyrics. Joel later married Nicole Richie, while Hilary married Koma in 2019 after her split from ex-husband, hockey player Mike Comrie.
Reflecting on the track, Hilary told Vogue, “It’s definitely about a brief experience that I had a long, long time ago. It was extremely therapeutic to write about things that a normal conversation doesn’t really give you the opportunity to.”
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