The documentary claimed that Simmons delayed his second surgery because he was worried about being able to bounce back after the procedure and whether it would worsen any ailments. Richard Simmons, a beloved fitness guru, was a talk show fixture at the height of his career. However, in 2014, Richard Simmons disappeared from the public eye. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is "Sweatin' To The Oldies" with a limp today, after a car ran over his foot, reports TMZ. The Harlem Plug is a 266-page Crime Biography, creative non-fiction published by Harlem Westside Publishing. A close friend of his told The New York Daily News: "We were very close. What really happened to Richard Simmons? The 74-year-old fitness guru shared a message with fans just days after the premiere of a new TMZ documentary about his disappearance from the spotlight. Most kingpins operate on a body politic. We've received your submission. 1 in their release weeks on the iTunes podcast chart as Serial fans and lovers of true . ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. On Monday night, FOX aired "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons," which explored his rise to stardom and surprising departure from the public eye. His last dog died at age 17. A June 2016 cover of the National Enquirer, for example, read: "Richard Simmons: He's Now a Woman." You know, I do what I want to do as Ive always done so people should sort of just believe what I have to say because like Im Richard Simmons!, Simmons called the rumors about Reveles controlling his life "very silly.". As Fritz revealed, similar to other stars like Pete Davidson, he'd been diagnosed with Crohn's disease and that is what was causing his transformation. He had it and then let it go.". He is happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live., On Wednesday, Simmons, 74, published his own short note to Facebook, simply saying: Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love. The Richard who has vanished is more authentically himself than the loud, sometimes crazy persona that he created, its said near the end of the doc. Listen to the podcast The New York Times calls "a cultural phenomenon." Headlong is Dan Taberski's documentary podcast that explores the lives of overlooked people, moments and events in our culture. According to the doc, theres a surprisingly simple reason why Simmons retreated from the spotlight. On Wednesday, the 74-year-old fitness guru shared a brief message with fans on Facebook to express gratitude for their support. Then they began swimming and dancing, lacing up at the sides and turning golden brown., As a teenager, Simmons tastes matured, but he still opted for calorie-heavy options, writing: Puberty was graduating from Thousand Island salad dressing to Caesar salads from hot dogs and hamburgers to beef stroganoff from ice cream in a cone to crme brule.. Richard Simmons, a beloved fitness guru, was a talk show fixture at the height of his career. In Harlem Holiday, the author brings out the real facts as to who the true Richard Simmons was after almost three decades of speculation. Now, some claim it was this early but enduring damage that spearheaded his eventual rise to pop culture legend and his later downfall into a world of loneliness and despair. The LAPD performed a welfare check on Simmons at his plush Hollywood Hills home in 2016, amid concerns his longtime housekeeper Teresa Reveles was holding him against his will. I liked him. Gina Vivinetto is a writer for TODAY.com. He has been in the public eye for the last 40 years, whether it be through his Sweatin' To The Oldies video series, successful talk show, or simply in person at his Beverly Hills gym Slimmons. Richard Simmons has been a flamboyant fitness guru for over 40 years and is one of the most iconic figures in fitness. His notable absence has become the subject of the Missing Richard Simmons podcast, and now the TMZ documentary What Really Happened to Richard Simmons, which premiered August 22 on Fox. While the documentary explored some far-out theories including that Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper the real explanation was finally revealed. She retired at age 35 and moved to New York City, where she led a private life until her death in 1990 at age 84. Fritz lowkey behavior didnt stop wolves from attempting to eat off his labor. It was originally published on 31 October, 2019. Richard Rich Porter (July 26, 1965 January 4, 1990) was an American drug dealer who rose to prominence in Harlem during the War on Drugs in the mid1980s police described him as being a highlevel crack dealer who sold about 50,000 worth of crack a week. Richard Simmons was the subject of a TMZ special that aired Monday night on FOX. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. What Really Happened to Richard Simmons" on . IE 11 is not supported. Market data provided by Factset. But he's still alive. While the documentary explored some far-out theories including that Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper the real explanation was finally revealed. You will never know how much it means to me, he wrote. He is known for his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos which he uses to promote weight loss. His 1988 VHS Sweatin To The Oldies became the biggest selling fitness home video of all time, grossing north of $200 million. He is happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live., Simmons also posted his own brief Facebook statement on Aug. 24, 2022, thanking supporters for Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love!. You know, I had hurt my knee, and I had some problems with it, and then the other knee started giving me trouble because Ive taught like thousands and thousands of classes, and you know right now I just want to sort of take care of me., During the call, Simmons, whose reclusiveness inspired the popular podcast Missing Richard Simmons, assured fans that his health was "good.". Naturally, they became suspicious of the involvement of his longtime housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, and alluded to Simmons being held hostage by her. How Did Monses Mom Die? Richard Simmons pal recalls time before disappearance: We had so much fun, Richard Simmons breaks silence, tells The Post hes living the life he has chosen, Suzanne Somers: My last meeting with broken Richard Simmons before disappearance, Us Weekly transition off to a rocky start. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I went through a lot of hurt as a child. The special shared that "the Richard who disappeared is more authentically himself" than his "loud" persona. Hello to everyone who has shown concern for me and sent their good wishes. Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (born July 12, 1948) is an American fitness personality and public figure, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality. Aired 8-23-22. Meanwhile, the highly empathetic exercise entrepreneur allegedly struggled to separate himself from the struggles of his dieting devotees. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, was being held hostage by his housekeeper, undergoing gender reassignment surgery to live as a woman named Fiona,. He was born and raised in New Orleans and, from a very early age, he began to over-eat. If he didnt get one, he might never be able to exercise again. Apparently, the possibility of surgery and a sedimentary life caused Simmons to sink into a deep depression. Airs tonight at 8/7c on @foxtv pic.twitter.com/SkFIJy6gts, Ultimately, the documentary lands at the conclusion that Simmons left the public eye because of a double knee replacement that affected his ability to exercise and his desire to retire. He basically went MIA until June 2016, when Simmons turned . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. More evidence that potentially supports the conspiracy regarding Richard Simmons being a kidnapping victim is the fence around his property. One night I was on the Larry King Show and he was either going to be a guest or supposed to be a guest, and I heard through the Larry King people that he didnt want to be on the show with me, Somers detailed. Fritz owes his obscurity to his business acumen of achieving the impossible and doing something that hasnt been done. The only impairment, police noticed at the time of their visit, was a slight limp in his knee., No one is holding me hostage, Simmons subsequently declared in a phone interview with Today. "And that's not my style, I never make fun of anybody. There was no crew, no crack houses, no intricate drug trafficking operation. Does Tsunade Die In Naruto? The new TV special produced by TMZ, the staff at which have spent years chronicling the stars disappearance states that the sassy, self-assured version of himself that he presented to the public was merely a front, and that Simmons was a profoundly shy and sensitive soul who struggled with being made fun of. All rights reserved. The strips of bacon looked so weak, so flimsy, so sad, until they hit the frying pan. Did You Get the Final Jeopardy! Right During Tonights High School Reunion Tournament? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. You have done so much good in so many peoples lives. But he is being missed. The prospect of surgery, of becoming sedentary, caused Richard to sink into a deep depression We know still to this day Richard still hasnt gotten corrective surgery on his left knee. As much as Fritz kept his circle small, he was in total harmony with everyone on 112th street. Despite wild rumors that Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper and that he was undergoing gender reassignment surgery to live as a woman named Fiona, the real reason behind Simmons disappearance has remained a mystery until now. "Thank you, everyone, for your kindness . 0 seconds of 24 secondsVolume 0%. Simmons disappearance sparked a podcast titled "Missing Richard Simmons," as well as numerous conspiracy theories alleging the star was being held hostage in his Hollywood Hills home by his housekeeper. According to the new TMZ documentary, he underwent a right knee replacement that left him in a considerable amount of pain. When Donnell Porter, brother of Rich Porter, was kidnapped and held for a $500,000 ransom, it was Fritz who gave Porter 30 free kilos of cocaine to get Donnell back. Simmons simply suffered a knee injury. A TMZ executive producer also revealed that he spoke with an LAPD officer who has been in contact with Simmons in recent years. His bestselling fitness tape, Sweatin to the Oldies, grossed more than $200 million alone. "One night I was on the Larry King Show, and he was either going to be a guest or supposed to be a guest, and I heard through the Larry King people that he didn't want to be on the show with me," the "Threes Company" star recalled. Faison, played by Wood Harris in Paid in Full, wrote the films original screenplay. In the 1970s, Richard 'Fritz' Simmons is introduced to the drug trade, by an associate of the Lucchese crime family, one of the five families of La Cosa Nostra (the Mafia). Simmons interviews detailed the bullying he suffered in his childhood, his relationship with food (including disordered eating that led to him losing 137 pounds, but he nearly died in the process), and the emotional responsibility he felt to his supporters. These Wigs Install in . Youre an amazing person who has opened his heart and soul to all for so many years. In 2021, Simmons revealed that he hoped a new generation of fans would be introduced to his classic exercise series, "Sweatin to the Oldies." I wanted to take a moment to send a big thank you to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center during my short stay there this week, wrote the star. The new documentary TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons, streaming now on FOX and Hulu, claims the entertainer has been holed up in his Hollywood Hills home due to a painful ailment that he has battled with since birth and has kept secret from his adoring public. The note read: "Fat people die young. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images). (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images). Copyright 2023 HowDidTheyDied | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. The Harlem Plug is a 266- page biography of Richard Fritz Simmons written by the author, Harlem Holiday. Simmons has always been concerned with his legacy and image. Something's broken inside because he did it. Fans were thrilled to hear that Simmons was in good health and high spirits, with thousands responding to his Facebook message. Even at the height of his fame, the publicly bold and brash Simmons preferred to spend nights at home alone, with a barren social calendar that made both Boo Radley and Howard Hughes look like socialites. One person never transported Barnes drugs from the pick-up location to the drop-off location. Clad in hot pants and bedazzled tank tops, the superstars light-hearted approach helped make fitness feel fun and accessible to overweight Americans who had long been intimidated by sculpted and self-serious trainers. And Fritz wasnt exempt, either. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. That question drives award-winning host Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons, Running From COPS, The Line) to shift his focus to what happened on 9/12, and every day after that. The account of events, as told by Fritzs closest friends and family, includes research gathered from newspaper clippings, magazine articles, social media, blogs, and court transcriptsfully disclosed. I was the largest child in school. Simmons' spokesperson, Tom Estey, confirmed to TODAY that the "Sweatin' to the Oldies" star posted the message, which comes just days after the premiere of TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons, a documentary on Fox and Hulu. Busta Rhymes slaps handsy female fan, tells boyfriend: 'Ta 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Ousted Chicago mayor blames loss on racism, gender but not her tepid response to crime, Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit together, Family raises 250-pound 'dog' for 2 years then realizes it's a bear, Disgraceful Meghan, Harry provoked King Charles to evict them: royal expert, Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date, Matthew Lawrence hugs, kisses TLCs Chilli during romantic airport reunion, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle confirm they were asked to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage. 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