Earlier this year there were stories that Richard Simmons was being held against his will and kept from the public by his housekeeper. There were whispers of elder abuse and friends of Simmons had come out to say that they were concerned about him after not hearing from him for over a year. The beloved fitness guru had not made a public appearance since 2014 and had not been seen at his gym, Slimmins, in some time. In response, Simmons, 67, told Entertainment Tonight that he’s been taking a break from public life and that he’s had some problems after having a knee replacement. He also said that he hasn’t gained weight as has been rumored and that he has kept up his exercise regime at home. Now Simmons has announced that he’s closing his fitness center, Slimmins, after 42 years. It sounds like he’s ready for retirement.
I follow Simmons on Facebook and he’s been posting messages of encouragement and cute throwback pictures. While he probably has a social media manager, the posts at least sound personal and like they’re coming from him. So he took a break, he may or may not be posting to social media, and now he’s retiring. He’s 67, he definitely earned it, although I hope for purely selfish purposes that we still see him. I would also love it if he did more fitness videos. He has a YouTube channel but it hasn’t been updated for two years. How awesome would it be if Richard Simmons released new workout videos? Jane Fonda did it! I am going to do one of his retro videos in honor of his retirement.
These are older photos of Richard Simmons at Slimmons. He put a call out on Facebook for fans to send in pics. He’s just a wonderful person and we miss him. Everyone is gushing about him on Facebook.
Photos via Facebook
I ve always loved him!
Aw, great photos. I also hope he’s ok and that all the strange rumors we’ve heard as of late are not true. He’s been such an inspiration to so many.
I also love that he is encouraging people to vote! Great use of his platform right now.
I sincerely hope he is well and happy. He has helped so many people in his life and you know he does it his own damn way, which is a quality I love and admire.
I hope he’s OK. Fun person!
I follow him on FB too!! I just think he’s the sweetest man with the BEST energy!! I truly hope he’s OK, the rumors make me worried for him.
Isn’t the rumor he’s transitioning into a woman? There were pictures posted somewhere of him (maybe in Mexico?) with a group of friends, dressed as a female. He looked great. And happy.
He has come out through his rep and said that is not true.
I used to work in Beverly Hills and this nurse and I always talked about attending one of his aerobics classes (I think they were $20-25) at Slimmins just for the hell of it.
I can’t think of him without thinking of Lance Perkins, the character Eddie Murphy played in “The Nutty Professor”:
“People, this is what I’m talking about: you go the store and you buy those bags with the little candy bars inside and you go home and eat them all up and in the end, you feel just like that bag: EMPTY INSIDE.”
someone i know worked for him over 20 yrs ago and he was off then (ex flying to where we live and just showing up at their house)
i can see how aging might make that even worse
Why can’t he do something along the line of “Sit and Be Fit”?
Anyway hope he’s OK.
I’m not convinced there isn’t some elder abuse going on. I guess he could be just deciding to get out of the limelight, I just expected his retirement to have more pizzazz
Some older people just get to a point in their lives where they are OVER it. He has been putting out an over-the-top persona for decades–maybe he’s all out of energy and just wants to live the remainder of his days in peace without having to be constantly “On.”
This is what I hope is the case. He may not want to be a public figure anymore, and that is his perogative.
If he were a financially secure private citizen who was nearing 70 and had worked over 40 years, few if any would be questioning a retirement.
I wish he’d re-release Reach on cd or digital. My tape died years ago.
A very positive, SELFLESS person. I never had the feeling he was living his true authentic life or as himself. I hope he’s okay. I hope he’s happy.
LOVE Richard. I hope he is happy and well. I followed him on fb until I just couldn’t stand fb any longer.
He is a treasure and it would be wonderful if we got to see more of him again in some capacity.
He was a big inspiration to me “back in the day.” Too bad I didn’t keep up with him. Sounds like he has just kept moving.