PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Richard Simmons’ representative calls podcast ‘hurtful’
Richard Simmons isn’t missing. That’s the conclusion the hit “Missing Richard Simmons” podcast came to after six episodes, the final of which was released Monday. But though the podcast may not have unearthed anything salacious, it has directed the public’s attention to the fitness superstar, who abruptly retreated from public life in 2014.
During the podcast’s run, the Los Angeles Police Department made a wellness check on Simmons’ home, and reported that the 68-year-old star was “fine.”
Simmons’ representatives have been increasingly public with statements reporting the same, and denying rumors that he is overweight or changing his gender. Speaking Wednesday by phone to USA TODAY, Simmons’ manager Michael Catalano hammered on how damaging the podcast, hosted by former Simmons friend Dan Taberski,
Publicist debunks reports that Willie Nelson is deathly ill
Willie Nelson has played nearly a dozen shows in recent weeks and is not deathly ill, his publicist said, despite a series of reports claiming the country music legend is struggling to breathe.
A March 13 Radar Online report quoted an anonymous source saying Nelson was “deathly ill,” weak as a baby and unable to muster the breath to sing. The story is the basis for reports shared by other websites, including washingtonfeed.com and uconservative.net. Elaine Schock, Nelson’s publicist, denied the reports and pointed to his performances at concerts in recent weeks as evidence.
“He’s perfectly fine,” Schock told The Associated Press on Wednesday.