An article came out in The NY Daily News over the weekend claiming that friends of Richard Simmons, 67, were extremely concerned after they had been unable to contact him for nearly two years. Simmons owns an exercise studio, where he used to teach classes, and hasn’t been seen there either. There have been press murmurs for years that Simmons has all but disappeared from the public, but he’s countered that with statements that he’s doing fine. TMZ reported in late 2014, after he hadn’t been seen for nearly a year, that sources close to Simmons claimed he was fine and just sad following a knee replacement and the loss of his beloved dog. In early 2015, LAPD officers visited Simmons at home following complaints of possible elder abuse. They left after speaking to Simmons, who was in the home alone and said to be lucid, gracious, and just wanting a break after years in the public eye.
The Daily News piece painted a disturbing picture of Simmons’s home life, with one former friend of Simmons, Mauro Oliveira, claiming that Simmons’s housekeeper had kicked him out during his last visit and that it seemed like the housekeeper and Simmons’s brother were possibly controlling him. The News had quotes from other friends of Simmons, including a wig shop owner who tried to deliver flowers to him on his birthday and was similarly turned away by the housekeeper. In his last appearance on television, in late 2013, Simmons broke down in tears. It seems like something nefarious could be going on, however Oliveira was a former employee and a questionable source. He admitted that Simmons paid his rent for years and that he asked him for money in one of his last visits.
Well Simmons tried to quash all that with a call to ET in which he insists everything is fine. ET has the recording of a phone call with him and he sounds fine:
“I am not kidnapped,” the 67-year-old fitness guru told ET’s executive producer, Brad Bessey, by phone. “I am just in my house right now.”
“No one should be worried about me,” Simmons said. “The people that surround me are wonderful people who take great care of me.”
On Saturday, the New York Daily News published a long report citing on and off the record sources who expressed concern for Simmons’ well-being.
Simmons called the report “very hurtful.”
“I love all the people who worry about me,” Simmons said. “But it was time for me to take some time to be by myself. For the last 40 years I have been traveling, teaching classes, and I had a knee injury, so I had a knee replacement, which was very difficult for me… I have really just been taking it easy, staying at home, working out in my gym and doing the things I haven’t done in a very long time.”
According to Simmons, he’s been keeping in shape despite concern that he might need another knee replacement. In response to speculation he has avoided going out because he has gained weight, Simmons said, “I still weigh 150. I work out every day. I have a gym at the house, and I am very healthy.”
Simmons was last photographed in January 2014 by TMZ…
“This is how I want to live my life right now,” Simmons told ET on Sunday. “And to all the people that are worried about me, please don’t be. If I was in any trouble, if I was hurting in any way, I would reach out. It is time right now for Richard Simmons to take care of Richard Simmons.”
It sounds like he’s ok and he seems very coherent but if I was his friend I would still be worried. It seems so out of character for him to just stop responding to everyone. I will say one thing though, he’s at retirement age and how do you retire from a position serving the public like that? He’s played a version of himself in the public for years, and maybe he’s just tired of it. He’s certainly earned a break. Simmons has helped so many people and he’s very much missed.
These photos are from late 2013. Credit: WENN.com
I hope he’s ok. He seems like such a sweet man.
ditto to what you said. he gave so much of himself to so many…his words of encouragement and positive attitude have brought a lot to so many people.
I understand if he needs a break from that, but I really hope he’s telling the truth and is OK.
I truly hope it is a guy just wanting a break (and maybe wanting to clean house of people he feels don’t have his best interests at heart).
I know he is known for taking care of himself physically, and I’m not worried about that. I just hope that he takes care of himself mentally. Therapy is not a bad word, and could do everybody a world of good, especially if he is changing things that he has done for decades.
Oops! Double post cause my fingers are too fast. Take care Richard! The public still loves you.
I like him very much. I felt bad for him when I would see all the nasty comments he got from hateful trolls online. Even when he went on talk shows, he seemed to be endlessly ridiculed by the hosts (Jay Leno). I don’t blame him for withdrawing from public life. Maybe all those homophobic and unkind comments got to him after a while. He can do a lot of good behind the scenes where people he actually meets in person appreciate him for all he does.
My aunt met Richard Simmons at the Beverly Center in 2012 .She said he was extremely friendly and he was a people person.He would actually approaching strangers and talking to them.It is odd for a person who LOVES meeting people to not leave his house for months or years.He is or was not the shy,reserved,reclusive type.Something is wrong,IMO.
I wonder about severe depression with him. A knee replacement or any health issues can bring some dark feelings up to the surface. I know when I had my heart issue last year (genetic issue that came to the surface), it took a while to feel emotionally healthy. I still struggle with feeling my mortality at times. Add that in with a body that doesn’t bounce back as easily as someone my age (much younger) and questionable people who may be helping with alienation and it can be a disaster waiting to happen.
I hope he’s ok, and I hope he is able to accept and reach out for help if he’s not.
I have a friend who met him in late 2013 or early 2014. She said he seemed a little bit off. He’s always been a colorful character, but maybe he’s been suffering from some kind of mental health problems. I doubt he’s being kept against his will, but I do worry a bit about him.
This kind of reminds me of Hugette Clark
Richard Simmons is a national treasure covered with sparkly fairy dust and rainbow hearts. I hope he is ok.
On the phone, he seemed depressed more than anything.
He did a Today interview by phone this morning, and basically he’s tired of traveling (plus had trouble with both knees). What he did for years had to be exhausting. He says he’ll come back, and come back strong.
The latest ‘friend’ making these claims is also supposedly shopping a play (script) based on his allegations.
Regardless of what is happening with Richard, that ‘friend’ is a piece of work. Getting his apartment paid for & then asked for money after not seeing Richard for 2 years?! Then, after he does not get money, he makes these public claims. He sounds like a disgusting, non-loyal leech. My mind did go to the knee surgery and hoping that Richard is healthy & not abusing drugs (pain pills, etc) or depressed or both. People don’t typically just go AWOL for good reasons but he’s a grown a$$ man and can decide to not talk to people if he wants. I hope he’s okay. I loved him when I was a little girl. It was great to see an adult showing a huge heart & who they really were with no apologies.
This guy seems to have other motives. RS seems like a nice, genuine person. People can drain the life (if not money) out of someone so kind and giving.
It’s really shameful to make the accusations this guy and others have made. Sounds like he/they were cut off for good reason.
Richard will always be the absolute best Howard Stern guest of all time. His appearances on the show are legendary. If you haven’t heard any of them, you tube him on Stern. He was amazing back in the 80’s and 90’s.
I can also tell you from experience that being an empath like he is can literally and absolutely drain you. It can do a real number to your mental state and you need time to recharge. He didn’t get to do that for 40 years and I think it took a toll on him. He wrote about being haunted by people he couldn’t help or could not help enough. I think he got a bit burned out and that’s ok. He deserves his break.
I wish him the best. He seems like such a sweet man.
Agree with everything above! But wanted to add that elder abuse can be very insidious. Vulnerable people get preyed on, and the “caregivers” circle the wagons so no one knows what medications the caregivers are giving, how they are spending the money, whether the person is free to contact friends… My own mother is being “cared for” by a BANK that promised to look after her and her money until she died. You would not freaking believe the things they have done – and I can’t stop them because she signed the papers willingly (without telling me). The people around her have total control – and they are thieves who want her to be a vegetable forever so they can keep living off her money. This has been driving me crazy for years because I see what is happening, but can’t even make a dent in the power of The Bank. It is CRIMINAL.
That is heartbreaking! I am so sorry you are dealing with this. What a nightmare. *hugs*
Are you in the U.S? If so, report the financial institution to 844-57-HELPS
That’s FINRA’s senior hotline, but you can call on behalf of your mother and even though it’s a bank and not investments they’ll help you with determining actions you can take.
Elder abuse is horrible and it often feels like we’re stuck without any way to help our loved ones. I’ve been dealing with this in my family too, so my heart goes out to you Belle E.
VERNIE and ANTONYM thank you so much for the support and information! I had no idea about that phone number! I hope it works, even if it just saves other families. ❤️
I wish him well, but it is incredibly odd for an outgoing man to lock himself away in his house for two years. It’s one thing to retire, but to totally disappear is bizarre. But I guess Carson did it too. When he retired, he meant it. LOL
I’m sorry I always got a creepy vibe from him. Nothing to do with his flamboyant style or anything, just weird creepy vibe.
a friend of mine worked on his informercial over 20 yrs ago. richard started showing up at the friend’s house unannounced. now this friend was not in LA or NY, married with small children. and richard would sit on the couch and cry. eventually he stopped coming but i would say he’s needed help for some time.
I hope he really is okay and we’ll taken care of. He seemed to genuinely care about people. .
Hope he now has another dog. Or two. Or three… Plus a cat.
If he’s having pain issues as well as mobility issues- those can do a number on any desire to socialize. Takes a lot of energy to be social, especially for a guy like Richard Simmons. Maybe he doesn’t have the energy right now and that’s what he means by needing to take care of himself for a change. He might be very focused on dealing with the medical problems and just not have anything left to deal with others. With all the people he knows- it might be easier to just keep them all away rather than try to pick and choose.
He’s a treasure and I really want him to be okay.
It is out of character for him. I used to work out with him at Slimmons along with several friends and he was so committed and loved it, for him to just disappear like that does seem really bizarre. I hope he isn’t being controlled by anyone. Good luck, Richard
When I was last on Facebook, Richard ran a page for himself. He was pretty active on it, and very much pleased with all the activity his posts got. He even ran a Richard Simmons Halloween costume contest.
I grew up listening his music and still love it and him. I hope he’s okay and that he comes back renewed, soon.