Nicole Richie at UNICEF's "Light The Night" Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Beverly Hills (11/22)

Nicole Richie is supposedly thrilled that Benji Madden and Paris Hilton broke up. Richie's been dating Benji's brother Joel for two years. From Star magazine:

Paris' frenemy is "thrilled that she's gone," says a source. "She never thought Paris was ever really into" Benji, the twin brother of her baby daddy, Joel.

And she may be right! Four days after dumping the Good Charlotte rocker, the hotel heiress was seen sneaking into L.A.'s Koi restaurant for a quiet dinner with her Greek shipping heir ex-boyfriend, Stavros Niarchos! "She was trying to fly below the radar and left alone about 30 minutes later," says another source.

eanwhile, Nicole is telling Benji that he "deserves better." (Source)

Nicole's right. Benji does "deserve better." My suggestion to Benji: If you really want a relationship that'll be an improvement over Paris, find something with a better personality -- may I suggest a woodchipper? -- and then stick your dick in it. . . . and then roll around in salt. That way, your manhood will only burn for a few days and not the rest of your life.

[WENN]