Richard Simmons breaks silence on seventy fifth birthday with uncommon assertion

Richard Simmons has made a uncommon public assertion. 

On the health guru’s seventy fifth birthday, his rep told ET, “It is a massive milestone. I simply need to see him completely satisfied, which he’s.”

The infamous recluse spent a lot of the ‘80s and ’90s squarely within the public eye. He was a fixture on daytime and late-night discuss reveals, placing out cookbooks, infomercials, and exercise movies. 

His 1988 VHS “Sweatin’ To The Oldies” was the largest promoting health residence video of all time, grossing over $200 million.

Then, in 2014, he mysteriously vanished from the highlight, prompting outrageous speculations about what occurred – together with rumors that his housekeeper was holding him hostage, and rumors that he was transgender, and was now a girl named Fiona. 

The documentary “TMZ Investigates: What Actually Occurred to Richard Simmons,” claims the true purpose he disappeared was as a consequence of an ailment. 

“One thing that occurred to him at delivery is instantly related to his disappearance — a delivery defect that considerably affected one in all his legs,” TMZ editor Fabian Garcia mentioned within the doc. “He was born with no full set of bones in his foot and it causes bodily and emotional issues.”

“Richard discovered consolation in meals and he gained a whole lot of weight,” doc producer Charles Latibeaudiere additional revealed. “And that put a whole lot of stress on his knees.”

As a youngster, the New Orleans-born exercise king struggled along with his weight, and bought bullied in class because of this. 

“He would attempt to maintain again tears as a result of boys would choose on him,” childhood good friend Antoinette DiPi told People.

In a Eighties interview, Simmons instructed Oprah that he additionally struggled with consuming problems. “I bought to 119 kilos and I used to be within the hospital,” he mentioned on the time.

After getting in form and shifting to LA, his profession took off, partly as a consequence of his colourful character. 

However within the TMZ doc, “Three’s Firm” star Suzanne Sommers detailed an encounter with him that exposed the non-public struggles he carried with him nicely into maturity. 

“One night time I used to be on the Larry King present and he was both going to be a visitor or speculated to be a visitor, and I heard via the Larry King folks that he didn’t need to be on the present with me,” Somers, 75, recalled. “I mentioned, ‘Why?’ and he mentioned, ‘She’ll make enjoyable of me.’ And that’s not my fashion, I by no means make enjoyable of anyone. However that’s once I realized somewhat insecurity has gotten in there.”

“I appreciated him. I used to be at all times so shocked when he thought I’d make enjoyable of him. However doesn’t that present you he’s bought a heartache? One thing’s damaged inside as a result of he did it. He had it after which let it go.”

In keeping with the TMZ doc, Simmons had a proper knee alternative that left him in ache, and unwilling to get a left knee alternative, too. 

“We all know nonetheless that to today, Richard nonetheless hasn’t gotten corrective surgical procedure on his left knee,” TMZ boss Harvey Levin mentioned within the doc. “He walks with a cane and that explains lots. He’s simply not the identical man anymore.

Levin mentioned that’s why he left the highlight. “He needed to be remembered as vibrant and wholesome — not an aged man with medical issues.’”

In August of 2022, his rep, Tom Estey, instructed The Publish,  “Richard is eternally grateful for the continual outpouring of affection and gratitude he has obtained from throughout the Globe. He’s completely satisfied, wholesome and dwelling the life he has chosen to reside.”

That very same week, Simmons wrote his personal brief be aware on Fb, stating, “Thanks, everybody, in your kindness and love. Love, Richard.

It was his first public missive in six years. 

In 2018 when he turned 70, a good friend instructed ET, “He’s doing very nicely. He’s his jovial self. He spends most of his time at residence and in his yard,” the good friend mentioned on the time.

“He retains up along with his studying and does what he needs to do. He deserves this time to himself. Seventy years is a milestone however he doesn’t take a look at it that means.”

Now, he’s simply turned 75, and his rep mentioned he’s “completely satisfied.”