A close bond! Sofia Richie and dad Lionel Richie are very close-knit and are constantly making us laugh with silly selfies and videos together. He’s also extremely supportive of his daughter and isn’t afraid to give her advice on everything from dating to her career.
The “All Night Long” singer welcomed Sofia with ex-wife Diane Alexander in August 1998, and it’s clear she holds a very special place in his heart. The up-and-coming actress is the baby of the family — Lionel and Diane had son Miles in 1994 and Sofia’s adopted sister Nicole was born in 1981.
“I’m a tough dad, but what I realize in life is that you have to approach it with a tad bit of humor,” the “Stuck On You” artist told People about his parenting style in 2019. “With my kids, I know their job is to completely scare me to death. And they’re doing a great job, by the way. I told this to Nicole the other day, my job is to embarrass them as much as I could, as long as I’m here. They’re trying to do the same to me, so I think it’s an equal swap right now.”
That being said, the Grammy winner is pretty laid-back as his kids go through different chapters in life. When Sofia started dating Scott Disick, who is 15 years her senior, when she was just a teen, Lionel had the perfect response.
“She’s 19. When you’re 19 you know everything. Is it going to be for life? I don’t know,” the American Idol judge told Australia’s Daily Telegraph at the time. “But for right now it’s just a phase and I’m going to stand real still in the corner, get me a good drink, and not make too much noise.”
He continued to watch his step when the model and Keeping Up With the Kardashians star split nearly three years later in May 2020. “He’s warned her not to get back with him but at the same time isn’t forcing his opinion on her,” an insider exclusively told Life & Style after the couple split. “Sofia is still so young and has her whole life ahead of her, and Lionel doesn’t want to see her settling down with the wrong guy.”
Basically, he knows his daughter’s future is bright. The proud dad gushed that Sofia is “doing fabulous” in February 2020 and has a lot of big things on the horizon. “Listen, I am so excited about her because, again, they’re all taking chances, and I want them to do that now. Don’t wait until years later and they’re all stepping forward,” he said.
Lionel will always be Sofia’s biggest fan. Keep scrolling to see their cutest photos!