Richard Simmons shared an inspirational message with his fans on his Facebook account on Tuesday morning.
The 75-year-old fitness instructor admitted that, while he was aware of the ridicule he often received from detractors, he had learned to love the person he had become over the years.
The reclusive figure – who recently voiced his disapproval for a controversial biopic centered on his life – also gave his fans recommendation for uplifting songs to listen to in hard times.
Simmons began by writing: ‘For as long as I can remember, people have made fun of me. And people still to this day make fun of me. But you know what? I am glad to be me! And you should be glad that you are you.’
The media personality then showed his fondness for Gloria Gaynor, as he wrote: ‘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 inspirational message with his fans on his Facebook account on Tuesday morning; seen in 2013
Simmons has shared several uplifting messages on his Facebook account over the past few days, and he asked his fans to ‘forgive someone who has hurt you’ in a post that was shared this past Friday.
The media figure, who was known for his formerly outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans voiced their concerns about his well-being over the following years.
However, the fitness instructor’s former representative, Tom Estey, provided a statement provided a statement to the New York Post in 2022 and expressed that he was ‘happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live.’
Development on a biopic centered on Simmons’ life began as early as April of last year, when Pauly Shore expressed his interest in portraying the fitness instructor.
At the time, the 55-year-old actor claimed that he had established contact with the reclusive media figure and was attempting to secure his blessing for the project.
The performer went on to portray the fitness instructor in a short film entitled The Court Jester, which premiered last week during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
It was subsequently revealed that Shore would, in fact, play Simmons in a full-length biopic earlier this month.
The reclusive media figure was quick to disavow the project, and he shared a post on his Facebook account earlier this month to let his fans know via Variety that he had ‘never given my permission for this movie.’
The 75-year-old fitness instructor admitted that, while he was aware of the ridicule he often received from detractors, he had learned to love the person he had become over the years
Simmons has shared several uplifting messages on his Facebook account over the past few days, and he asked his fans to ‘forgive someone who has hurt you’ in a post that was shared this past Friday
The media figure, who was known for his formerly outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans voiced their concerns about his well-being over the following years; seen in 2013
The performer went on to portray the fitness instructor in a short film entitled The Court Jester, which premiered last week during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
The reclusive media figure was quick to disavow the project, and he shared a post on his Facebook account earlier this month to let his fans know via Variety that he had ‘never given my permission for this movie’
The Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization, which is producing the project, issued a statement to express that they ‘would love to have [Simmons] involved’ with the upcoming movie.
The production company added: ‘We respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.’
Shore went on to stress that the project would not lampoon Simmons’ achievements during an interview with Variety, and he stated that the feature’s creative team ‘don’t want to bug him.’
The performer added that the project’s producers ‘want to pay homage to him and kiss his feet and say he’s done beautiful stuff.’