Richard Simmons thanks fans after documentary about his absence from public view
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NOW PLAYING ABOVE
Richard Simmons thanks concerned fans after documentary about his absence from public “Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love!" Simmons wrote on Facebook. (NCD)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Fitness guru Richard Simmons re-emerged on social media to thank fans who expressed concern about his lack of a presence on the platforms.
Simmons, 74, left the spotlight more than eight years ago, Fox News reported. He was the subject of a TMZ documentary that aired Monday on Fox, “TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons.”
The documentary focused on Simmons disappearing from the public eye, People reported. It also revealed that knee problems had kept Simmons out of the limelight.
On Wednesday, Simmons went on Facebook and posted a photo of a smiling emoji holding a thank you sign.
“Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love! Love, Richard,” Simmons wrote.
Simmons’ manager, Michael Catalano, confirmed the post’s authenticity to People.
“This was a personal post from Richard,” Catalano told the magazine. “He was moved by the reaction to the special and all the good wishes that he received. He was encouraged by the kindness.”
The special explored Simmons’ rise to stardom and featured interviews with Denise Austin and Suzanne Somers, Fox reported. Longtime friend Bruce Vilanch and Simmons’ longtime costume designer, Leslie Wilshire, also were interviewed for the special.
Simmons’ absence has been the subject of rumors through the years, fueled by the podcast “Missing Richard Simmons,” People reported. It gave rise to several claims, including Simmons being held hostage by his housekeeper and possibly transitioning into a woman.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Simmons called the “Today” show in March 2016 to refute the hostage claims.
“No one is holding me in my house as a hostage,’’ Simmons told Savannah Guthrie on the air, according to “Today.” “You know, I do what I want to do as I’ve always done so people should sort of just believe what I have to say because like I’m Richard Simmons!”
In 2017, Simmons sued two tabloid publications that alleged he was transitioning, Fox News reported. Simmons’ attorneys have said he supports transgender rights but believed the allegations defamed him.
A spokesperson for Simmons told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that they had no comment about the allegations made in the documentary.
1 of 11
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 1979: Richard Simmons appears in a promotional photo for the ABC TV series "General Hospital" in 1979. (American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 1984: Richard Simmons appears in a promotional photo for ABC in 1984. (American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 1992: Actor Richard Simmons poses for a portrait in 1992 in Los Angeles. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 1997: Fitness personality Richard Simmons during an interview with host Jay Leno on February 14, 1997. (Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 2000: Fitness personality Richard Simmons during an interview with host Jay Leno on February 22, 2000. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 2004: Fitness expert Richard Simmons speaks to students about exercise and nutrition at the third annual Nutrition Advisory Council Symposium sponsored by LAUSD Nutrition Network at California State University on June 16, 2004, in Los Angeles. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 2008: Fitness advocate Richard Simmons (center) dances with fans during a rally on Capitol Hill on July 24, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Simmons was on the Hill for a hearing and a rally to promote the benefits of physical and health education for children. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 2010: Richard Simmons attends the 2010 World Fitness Day at the Georgia Dome on May 1, 2010, in Atlanta. (Moses Robinson/Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 2011: Fitness gurus Richard Simmons and Denise Austin are seen near pictures of the first television fitness guru, Jack LaLanne, before the start of LaLanne's funeral service on February 1, 2011, in Los Angeles. (David McNew/Getty Images)
Photos: Richard Simmons through the years 2013: TV personality Richard Simmons attends the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV)
