Richard Simmons has not been seen in public for about two years now, which has sparked numerous rumors as to where he may be. Some of the rumors even go as far as saying that he is being held hostage. Now, Simmons has finally broke his silence on these reports.
The New York Daily News published an article, "The Haunted Twilight of Richard Simmons," Saturday, March 12, making it seem as though he was depressed and being held against his will in his Hollywood Hills, Calif., mansion and that even his closest friends were "increasingly concerned." Following these reports, the 67-year-old fitness guru finally spoke out so he could deny the bizarre claims.
"I am not kidnapped," he told "Entertainment Tonight" Sunday. "I am just in my house right now. No one should be worried about me. The people that surround me are wonderful people who take great care of me."
He went on to explain that the New York Daily News' report was "very hurtful" and that, after 40 years of traveling and teaching classes plus a knee injury, he just needed to take it easy at his home.
"I love all the people who worry about me," he continued. "But it was time for me to take some time to be by myself.... This is how I want to live my life right now. And to all the people that are worried about me, please don't be. If I was in any trouble, if I was hurting in any way, I would reach out. It is time right now for Richard Simmons to take care of Richard Simmons."
The iconic fitness instructor also called in to "Today" Monday to inform everyone that he's okay. "Not to worry, Richard's fine," he said. "No one is holding me in my house hostage. I do what I want to do as I've always done. I taught, like, thousands of classes and, you know, right now, I just want to sort of just take care of me. I just really don't want to do anything. I just don't want to be traveling anymore. It certainly has taken its toll on me."
He then made a bold statement, promising that he'll be making quite the comeback. "You haven't seen the last of me," he added. "I'll come back and I'll come back strong."
Simmons' rep, Tom Estey, also released a statement stating that the hostage reports are false and that he's not in any danger. "As I have stated in the past, these claims are untrue and preposterous," Etsey said. "Richard, after 40 years of being in the spotlight, is now simply taking a break from the public eye and working behind the scenes to continue to help those millions of people worldwide in need of his assistance and on several projects to be announced soon."
