Richard Simmons' Rep Provides Rare Update on His 75th Birthday After Disappearance From Spotlight
Richard Simmons turned 75 years old yesterday, July 12, 2023, and his rep, Tom Estey, provided the public with a rare update on how he's doing these days.
The fitness instructor, who for the past nine years has remained largely out of the spotlight, is seemingly in good spirits, as communicated in a statement shared on his milestone birthday.
"I just want to see him happy, which he is," Estey told ET of the aerobics icon.
The update comes nearly a year after TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons—a documentary exploring his disappearance from the public eye—was released, which prompted fans to become concerned for Simmons' wellbeing.
But, according to the latest update from his representative, there's simply no need to worry.
Simmons "is so gratified by the outpouring of love and good wishes from his fans. He wants them to know he is doing well and sends all his best wishes back to them," Etsey added in an additional statement to E! News.
In August 2022, following the release of the tabloid's investigative broadcast—which chronicled Simmons' rise to fame, as well as the conspiracy theories behind his perplexing sudden departure from his beloved workout studio (including speculation that he's unable to leave his home)—the Sweatin' to the Oldies star shared a message of gratitude for fans' support in response to the swirling hearsay.
"Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love! Love, Richard," he shared via Facebook at the time, alongside a photo of an oversized smiley face emoji holding up a "Thank You" sign.
Despite his publicist repeatedly attempting to put the ongoing banter surrounding his "disappearance" to rest, a resurgence of interest in Simmons erupted after growing popularity of Dan Taberski's podcast, Missing Richard Simmons, in 2017.
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However, even after the last time he was seen in public in Feb. 2014, he has personally spoken out about his whereabouts on other occasions.
"No one is holding me in my house as a hostage," Simmons told the Today show in 2016, refuting the rumors. "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."
He continued, insisting: "I just sort of wanted to be a little bit of a loner for a little while. You know, I had hurt my knee, and I had some problems with it, and then the other knee started giving me trouble... and you know, right now I just want to sort of take care of me."
Prior to his statement, a news story was published by New York Daily News, where a friend allegedly described Simmons as "gaunt," noting how his housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, appeared to be controlling his life, at the time.
In response, Simmons claimed, "That's just very silly," adding, "Teresa Reveles has been with me for 30 years. It's almost like we're a married couple."
Simmons has allegedly cut off contact with friends and has rarely been seen in public outside his home in the Hollywood Hills, but from what his rep is saying, he appears to be just laying low.
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