National Post (National Edition)
Fitness guru just fine, police say
LOS ANGELES •Los Angeles Police recently visited Richard Simmons’s house on a welfare check after rumours persisted that his housekeeper was holding him hostage.
They found him “perfectly fine” and “very happy,” People reported. The article did not say when police made the check. But TMZ, quoting “law enforcement sources,” said it was about two weeks ago.
On Feb. 15, 2014, the fitness guru disappeared from the public eye and stopped speaking with close friends. He hasn’t been seen since, leaving many to wonder about his safety. Recently, interest in the reclusive celebrity has grown with the launch of Missing Richard Simmons, a new podcast hosted by former The Daily Show producer Dan Taberski. It’s quickly become the most popular podcast on iTunes in many countries, including Canada.
On it, an old rumour resurfaced: that Simmons’ maid Teresa Reveles is holding the aerobics instructor at his home against his will.
“There was something about his housekeeper holding him hostage and not allowing people to see him and preventing him from making phone calls and it was all garbage and that’s why we went out to see him. None of it is true,” Det. Kevin Becker said.
“The fact of the matter is we went out and talked to him … he is fine, nobody is holding him hostage. He is doing exactly what he wants to do. If he wants to go out in public or see anybody he will do that.”
In March last year, Simmons tried to silence the rumours by calling into the Today show.
“No one is holding me in my house as a hostage,” he said.
Why, then, is there a popular podcast about a missing man who isn’t actually missing?
Some have accused Taberski of attempting to make a name off the reclusive celebrity. The Washington Post’s Dan Zak called the podcast a “loving invasion of Simmons’ privacy.”
Taberski, though, claimed he wants to do more than merely find Simmons — or an audience.
“What we’re doing is something of a grand gesture,” Taberski told Zak. “We are reminding him that what he did was important and that he helped countless people and they love him for it.”