Reclusive ’80s fitness star Richard Simmons has shared an update with fans to mark his 75th birthday, after remaining out of the spotlight since 2014.
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, his representative Tom Estey confirmed: “This is a big milestone. I just want to see him happy, which he is.”
The fitness guru, who was popular in the ’80s and ’90s for his workout tapes like his 1988 VHS tape Sweatin’ To The Oldies, which became the biggest selling fitness home video of all time, grossing over $200 million.
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The popularity made him a fixture on daytime and late-night talk shows, helping him put out cookbooks, infomercials and even more workout videos.
But that all changed in 2014, when he suddenly disappeared from the public eye.
His absence sparked many rumours, including one outlandish claim that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper in his West Hollywood home.
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The rumours became so prevalent that TMZ even created a documentary about him, titled TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons.
The documentary, released in August 2022, alleged the real reason for Simmons’ retreat from the public eye was a birth defect that left his knees in dire need of replacement in the 2010s.
“Doctors told him back in 2014, around the time he disappeared, that he needed a left knee replacement,” the program claimed.
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“And if he didn’t get one, he might never be able to exercise again. Now, this is key to the disappearance of Richard Simmons. The prospect of surgery, of becoming sedentary, caused Richard to sink into a deep depression.
“We know still to this day Richard still hasn’t gotten corrective surgery on his left knee. He walks with a cane and that explains a lot. He’s just not the same guy anymore.”
Ironically, the release of the documentary prompted Simmons to break his silence after years out the public eye, posting a message to fans through Facebook.
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The workout star shared a photo of a smiling emoji holding a thank you sign with the message, “Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love! Love, Richard.”
His manager confirmed at the time that the message was genuine, telling People “He was moved by the reaction to the special and all the good wishes that he received. He was encouraged by the kindness.”
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