There’s been a ton of drama surrounding Richard Simmons in the last few months. The bulk of it comes from the following question: “Where is Richard Simmons?” People have been wondering where he is, why he’s in hiding, and whether or not his housekeeper is holding him hostage in his own home. The speculation has run so rampant that a Podcast called “Missing Richard Simmons” was created. While that might sound ridiculous, even more ridiculous is the fact that it’s just become the number one Podcast in this country. Yes, number one. As in higher than any Podcast out right now. According to THR
His publicist, manager, brother and two officers from the Los Angeles Police Department have all said the 68-year-old fitness guru is at his Hollywood Hills mansion and doing fine. Simmons said the same himself when he called into Entertainment Tonight last year, explaining he was safe and well and that “it’s time right now for Richard Simmons to take care of Richard Simmons.”
But he has been missing from the spotlight for three years – and that was enough for Dan Taberski, a former producer of The Daily Show, to create the Missing Richard Simmons podcast. Taberski has spent six episodes investigating his subject’s whereabouts, making it most popular podcast in the country and inspiring a national obsession with Simmons’ well-being. The final episode was released this week.
So how can we explain this three year hiatus? From a guy as animated and social as Richard Simmons seems to be, nothing adds up. However, we have to realize that facts are facts. Maybe this guy just wanted out for a little while. Truth be told this Podcast is actually causing Simmons more harm than good. Rumors of a gender switch operation have recently surfaced and there’s continued speculation of the whole housekeeper holding him hostage scenario. Michael Catalano, his manager f0r 30 years said,
“He didn’t need this intrusion to validate his contribution to people,” Catalano said in an interview Tuesday. “He knows the reception (the podcast) is having. He knows how people are responding to it. But it’s also hurtful. It’s humiliating, you know? It’s damaging. It just is …
“Anywhere he goes now there’s going to be – more than there was before – pointing and speculation. Has he transitioned into a woman? Is that him behind that beard? I don’t envy that. I don’t envy that for someone, who at this time, has chosen to retreat. He has the right! I just don’t think because you are on the public stage for 40 years that you have to continue to remain there until your last breath.”
Look, I think we can all agree this is the guy we want back: This video is amazing.
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