Man behind Nicole Richie diet book under attack

A prankster who is making a small fortune at the expense of pregnant Nicole Richie is fighting criticism as her fans strike back.

Hollywood publicist Robert Smith’s “The Nicole Richie Cookbook,” which features 60 blank pages bound by an image of “The Simple Life” star, has become all the rage on the Internet.

But Smith isn’t celebrating. He tells In Touch Weekly magazine, “I’ve been getting a lot of backlash and flak.

“I meant it as a joke, but I’ve gotten e-mails saying it’s insensitive to people with eating disorders.”

Smith insists he’ll donate proceeds from the joke book to an eating-disorder charity.