Hollywood – After 2 years of public absence, Richard Simmons spoke with ET‘s executive producer, Brad Bessey. The 67-year-old fitness guru said in a phone interview that he was in his house and that no one should be worried about him.
Simmons stopped taking calls and teaching classes and even stopped showing his face in public for more than 2 years. He was last photographed in January 2014 and, in November 2014, reports of Simmons’ knee injury surfaced. Fans and friends started to show concern about Simmons whereabouts, now the fitness guru has broken the silence to tell everybody he is ok.
“I love all the people who worry about me,” Simmons said to ET. “But it was time for me to take some time to be by myself. For the last 40 years I have been traveling, teaching classes, and I had a knee injury, so I had a knee replacement, which was very difficult for me.”
Simmons explained that the reason for his long absence is just because he had been taking it easy, staying at home, working out in his gym and doing the things he hadn’t done in a very long time.
Simmons is not being kept against his will
Richard Simmons has not been seen in public since the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade so his fans and friends were very concerned about his safety.
Over the weekend, a New York Daily News story quoted Mauro Oliveira, a friend of Richard’s describing the 67-year-old Simmons as “gaunt” and noted how his housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, appeared to be controlling his life. Richard decided to break the silence and let everybody know he is all right.
Simmons said in a phone interview with TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie that no one is holding him in his house as a hostage and that that going low profile was his choice. He added that the comments regarding his housekeeper were just silly. He noted Reveles has been with him for 30 years and it’s almost like they were a married couple.
Simmons thanked his supporters on Facebook
After breaking the silence after two years and clarifying rumors of being kidnapped, Richard thanked his fans on his Facebook page for all their support showing gratitude to them for following, caring, commenting and, most importantly, still smiling.
He continued saying he couldn’t tell how much it meant that so many fans were worried and expressed care about his well being.
He said goodbye telling fans he’s just taking some much needed time for me, but he’ll be back.
Source: ET Online