Richard Simmons reflects on the pain of being made fun as he shares inspirational message with his fans amid controversy over biopic
Richard Simmons shared an inspiring message with his fans on his Facebook account Tuesday morning.
The 75-year-old fitness instructor admitted that while he was aware of the ridicule he often received from opponents, over the years he had learned to love the person he had become.
The reclusive figure – who recently expressed his disapproval of a controversial biopic centering on his life – also gave his fans recommendations for uplifting songs to listen to during difficult times.
Simmons began writing, “For as long as I can remember, people have made fun of me. And to this day people still make fun of me. But you know what? I’m happy to be me! And you should be happy being you.”
The media personality then showed his love for Gloria Gaynor, writing, “Three songs to listen to: I Will Survive… I Am What I Am… and… This Is Me. These songs will uplift you.”
Richard Simmons shared an inspiring message with his fans on his Facebook account Tuesday morning; seen in 2013
Simmons has shared several uplifting messages on his Facebook account in recent days, and he asked his fans to “forgive someone who hurt you” in a post shared last Friday.
The media figure, who was known for his previously outgoing personality, abruptly stopped his public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans expressed concerns about his well-being in the following years.
However, the fitness instructor’s former representative, Tom Estey, provided a statement provided a statement to New York Post in 2022, saying he was “happy, healthy and living the life he chose to live.”
Development of a biopic about Simmons’ life began back in April of last year, when Pauly Shore expressed his interest in playing the fitness instructor.
At the time, the 55-year-old actor claimed he had made contact with the reclusive media figure and was trying to secure his blessing for the project.
The performer next played the fitness instructor in a short film titled The Court Jester, which premiered last week at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
It was then revealed that Shore would play Simmons in a full-length biopic earlier this month.
The reclusive media figure quickly disavowed the project, sharing a post on his Facebook account earlier this month to let his fans know via Variety that he ‘never gave my permission for this film’.
The 75-year-old fitness instructor admitted that while he was aware of the ridicule he often received from opponents, he had learned to love the person he had become over the years.
Simmons has shared several uplifting messages on his Facebook account in recent days, and he asked his fans to “forgive someone who hurt you” in a post shared last Friday.
The media figure, who was known for his previously outgoing personality, abruptly stopped his public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans expressed concerns about his well-being in the following years; seen in 2013
The performer next played the fitness instructor in a short film titled The Court Jester, which premiered last week at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The reclusive media figure quickly disavowed the project, sharing a post on his Facebook account earlier this month letting his fans know via Variety that he “never gave my consent to this film.”
Warner Bros. affiliate The Wolper Organization, which is producing the project, released a statement saying they would “love to have (Simmons) involved” in the upcoming film.
The production company added: “We respect his desire for privacy and intend to produce a film that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.”
Shore further emphasized that the project would not mock Simmons’ performance during an interview with Varietyand he stated that the feature film’s creative team “doesn’t want to bother him.”
The artist added that the project’s producers “want to pay tribute to him, kiss his feet and say he has done wonderful things.”