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Despite Podcast’s Concerns, Police Say Richard Simmons Is Fine

Richard Simmons attends a charity event in New York in 2013. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Fans of fitness guru and perpetual brightness machine Richard Simmons may lately have been worried about their sweatin’ friend, especially if they subscribe to a podcast called Missing Richard Simmons. It’s been hailed by Vulture as, “the strongest narrative podcast out there right now,” and attempts to get to the bottom of both Simmons’ withdrawal from the public eye and the allegation that he is “being held hostage” by his housekeeper, a rumor that has persisted about Simmons for a few years now. Apparently, Simmons’ status has been enough of a concern to trigger periodic check-ins by the LAPD, and according to Entertainment Weekly, police officers have found that the man is “perfectly fine.” Furthermore, the detective who paid Simmons a visit recently seemed a bit irritated by the whole thing, saying, “[Simmons] is doing exactly what he wants to do. If he wants to go out in public or see anybody he will do that.”

Despite Podcast’s Concerns, Cops Say Richard Simmons Is Fine