Richard Simmons speaks out amid shocking doc explaining his absence from the spotlight
foxnews.comRichard Simmons left the public spotlight more than eight years ago, and he’s thanking fans for their support. On Wednesday, the fitness guru took to his Facebook page and shared a photo of a smiling emoji holding a thank you sign.The post came after FOX aired "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons" on Monday night.The special explored his rise to stardom and surprising departure from the public eye.
It featured interviews with Denise Austin and Suzanne Somers, as well as pal Bruce Vilanch and Simmons’ longtime costume designer Leslie Wilshire. "Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love!" captioned the 74-year-old with a heart. "Love, Richard." After decades in the limelight, Simmons suddenly stopped teaching at his workout studio in 2014 and has retreated from public life altogether.
His disappearance sparked a podcast titled "Missing Richard Simmons," as well as numerous conspiracy theories alleging he was being held hostage in his Hollywood Hills home by his housekeeper.
Richard Simmons thanked his fans for their support on Facebook. (Scott Roth/FilmMagic) In 2017, Simmons sued two tabloid publications that alleged he was transitioning into a woman.
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