the latest issue of people features
exclusive details on the fitness gurus
shocking disappearance from the public
eye joining us now with the real story
on what happened to Simmons is people
editor Liz McNeill good morning lids
thank you for being here thank you let's
dive right into this nearly three years
ago Richard stepped away from the public
spotlight with really little explanation
people have kind of taken note one of
the few people he still regularly keeps
in touch with is his brother Lenny what
did Lenny tell you about his brother's
decision and how he's living his life
today Lenny his brother says this is
completely Richard choice he said that
Richard wanted to live a quiet life that
frankly he was a little tired that pace
that he had kept up for over 40 years he
said was was absolutely exhausting and
he really made it clear that Richard is
fine physically and that he has decided
to live quietly and doesn't really leave
the house sure and this is something
that looks people here that said it's
like all we talked about this a while
ago well the reason or one of the
reasons that this is sort of perked back
up to being talked about and the public
attention is because of a the popularity
of podcast missing Richard Simmons we
actually have a clip from the most
recent episode let's listen to this and
we'll talk about it I was a very obese
person and Richards helped me find my
happy person I will always love him he
was the rock star too many of these
people so obviously the whole podcast is
centering around what's going on with
Richard Simmons it's hosted him was
created by former daily show producer
dan Sabarsky he's determined to find out
what really happened to his friend
richard has Richard listen to the
podcast and on what does his inner
circle think of it the people in his
inner circle say richard has not
listened to the podcast that he is aware
of it okay they really think that a lot
of the claims in the podcast are
sensational they feel like it raised a
lot of you know sensational sort of
claims that are unfounded they insist
that this is Richard decision to live a
quiet life and that he really is fine
physically well it's interesting Richard
declined to be photographed or
interviewed for this article but his
manager Michael Catalano did talk to
people what did his managers say about
Richard's life today Richard said I mean
Richard lives you know
again a very private and quiet life he
saw him a week ago he said that Richard
doesn't really look that different that
he still trim he hasn't gained weight he
has a beard he is perhaps a little bit
more gray and catalano insists that a
lot of these sensational claims that
he's transitioning into a woman that
he's gained weight that they are all
completely unfounded ok so does and that
was my next question because there have
been no sex people say he's overweight
maybe there's a health issue
transitioning female he says unfounded
absolutely and he said that the one
thing you have to remember is that this
man kept up an incredible pace for 40
years and that he really just wanted
some time to himself ok now his
housekeeper Teresa reveles has been
accused by some of manipulating or
confining Richard Simmons any truth to
those claims at all again what Michael
Catalano says and his brother says that
Teresa is pretty much as live in care of
housekeeper but that she is completely
loyal to him cooked for him takes care
of him answer the phone but that there's
no motive and that's it she certainly
isn't keeping him hostage those closest
to him certainly continue to say
everything's fine yet we still haven't
seen or heard from him it's fascinating
because he has traditionally been such a
public person and has seemingly loved
being on camera being in the spotlight
for him to go completely sort of into
the shadows seems unlike him but could
this have been his plan all along you
know it's an interesting question and
it's interesting because many of the
people that I spoke to use the word
seclusion which is an interesting word
that that this was his choice but there
was an interesting quote that he gave us
a 1981 for our cover story when he said
the day I don't love this anymore I'll
walk away and you can't help but think
that that might be part of his decision
fascinating stuff Liz McNeil thank you
so much for all the information guys for
even more on Richard Simmons be sure to
pick up the latest issue of people on
newsstands everywhere Friday hey youtube
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