Fashion designer and TV personality Nicole Richie is allegedly bullying co-actress Jessica Simpson in their reality show “Fashion Star,” this according to the claims of an article from Star magazine.

A so-called insider of “Fashion Star,” told Star that “Nicole’s a mean girl to Jessica,” adding, “She was so cliquey. It felt like middle school.”

The mag went on claiming that Nicole Richie “even convinced co-mentor John Varvatos to snub Jessica Simpson,” quoting the same allegee “source” as saying, “Nicole got John in her clique, and he was rude to Jess too.”

Star’s alleged insider notes that Jessica Simpson was so disconcerted over the supposed bullying of Nicole Richie that “she would often put her head down while talking on the phone and looked like she was crying and trying to hide her emotions.”

According to reports, the same exact rumor surfaced in September, after “Fashion Star” had finished filming, and a friend of Jessica Simpson told a media outlet at the time, ”Jess loves Nicole and her style, and really respects her.”

Simpson’s friend insisted again that the rumor is “not true at all,” saying, “They are all friends and very, very fond of each other.”

Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson are both mentors on Fashion Star, a reality competition for aspiring designers debuting midseason on NBC.