Richard Simmons’ Brother Reveals What Happened To The Missing Fitness Star

Despite confirming that he has been trying to live a quiet life for years, many have assumed Richard Simmons is missing and that something awful must have happened to the former fitness star.

Some even speculated that he may have gained a lot of weight and didn’t want to be seen in the public eye while others even claimed he was transitioning into a woman. The last time Simmons was seen was at his now defunct Beverly Hills studio in 2014.

There has even been a hit podcast called Missing Richard Simmons.

Well fans can stop worrying, finally. Members of Richard Simmons’ inner circle say that his life of solitary seclusion is self-imposed.

PEOPLE magazine has interviewed people close to Simmons who reveal he’s doing okay.

“My brother is fine,” said his older brother Lenny Simmons, 70. “He’s not sick. There’s nothing medically wrong with him at all. My wife Cathy and I were out there for Christmas and spent five days with him. These things about him transitioning to a woman are ridiculous.”

Lenny continued, “After 40-some odd years, he just decided that he wants to rest. He’s 68 years old now and he’s in good health, but he just wants time for himself.”

His spokesman, Tommy Estey said, “He’s helped millions of people lose millions of pounds. And for 40 years, he took care of everyone but himself.”

His manager Michael Catalano said, “He looks great, he’s trim and he has a beard, salt and pepper. He’s in excellent health, as far as I know.”

Simmons’ longtime housekeeper Teresa Reveles was also spotted recently outside of his home taking the recyling bins out.

“I want my friend back in my life the way he used to be,” says longtime assistant Elijah Jones. Jones relies on Reveles for updates.