His blueprint consisted of staying quiet, aloof from violence, and doing the opposite of what everyone else was doing. Richard Simmons is speaking out publicly for the first time in years following the release of a new TMZ documentary focusing on his mysterious disappearance from the spotlight. According to the doc, there's a surprisingly simple reason why Simmons retreated from the . Fans were thrilled to hear that Simmons was in good health and high spirits, with thousands responding to his Facebook message. When Donnell Porter, brother of Rich Porter, was kidnapped and held for a $500,000 ransom, it was Fritz who gave Porter 30 free kilos of cocaine to get Donnell back. This story has been shared 127,060 times. Simmons obesity had a hugely negative effect on his self-worth, as he emotionally recalled in a 1980s interview, which in the new TMZ doc is featured as flashback footage. In 2014, eight months after Simmons left the public eye, the outlet claimed that the star had "two bad knees." Richard Porter walked down a cold Harlem street in December 1990 wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a loaded pistol. Mostly any drug dealer would have used drug peddlers to distribute the drugs, but not Fritz. He had it and then let it go., What really happened to Richard Simmons TMZ separates the truth from the B.S. It was originally published on 31 October, 2019. Harlem referred to Richard Fritz Simmons, their own urban legend, as Fritz from West 112th Street. 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Simmons' spokesperson, Tom Estey, confirmed to TODAY that the "Sweatin' to the Oldies" star posted the message, which comes just days after the premiere of TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons, a documentary on Fox and Hulu. As per Celebrity Net Worth, Richard has an estimated net worth of $20 million. "Something that happened to him at birth is directly connected to his disappearance a birth defect that significantly affected one of his . (Ron Eisenberg/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). NOTE TO EDITORS: Youve given so much of yourself to the world, and now its your time. I liked him. I dont want to be traveling anymore its taken a toll on me.). You have done so much good in so many peoples lives. How Was This Dangerous Serial Killer Executed? After negotiating a deal with the Medelln Cartel, Fritz becomes New York's Cocaine Consignment King. None of us will ever forget you!, Another chimed in: We miss you Richard but hope you are doing what is right for you. Richard Simmons in 2013. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. In 2021, Simmons revealed that he hoped a new generation of fans would be introduced to his classic exercise series, "Sweatin to the Oldies." Attorneys for Simmons have said he supports transgender rights, but the allegations have defamed him. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. The star himself told Oprah Winfrey in a 1980s interview that he developed an eating disorder after high school, saying: I stopped eating and I got to 119 pounds and I was in the hospital.. I said, Why? and he said, Shell make fun of me. And thats not my style, I never make fun of anybody. Bravo! wrote one. He had it and then let it go.". Simmons was born as Milton Teagle Simmons in 1948 with a disfigured upper leg, asthma and without . I was always so surprised when he thought Id make fun of him. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. His operation on the first was so painful that he allegedly was delaying the second. The special, streaming on Fox and Hulu, claims that problems with the stars knees were behind his sudden shunning of the spotlight. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images). Richard Simmons is speaking out publicly for the first time in years following the release of a new TMZ documentary focusing on his mysterious disappearance from the spotlight. or redistributed. more. Your email address will not be published. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. His 12-year . Days later, Simmons thanked the hospital's staff in a Facebook message. According to the new TMZ documentary, he underwent a right knee replacement that left him in a considerable amount of pain. This is the highly anticipated biography of Harlem's own urban legend known as '112th Street Fritz.'. Simmons was one of Hollywoods biggest stars for more than three decades before he suddenly disappeared from the public eye in 2014. One distinguishing fact about Fritz is that his crew consisted of only two people: friends Ace and Charles Chucky Caine. 1 in their release weeks on the iTunes podcast chart as Serial fans and lovers of true . The older folks in the neighborhood loved Fritz because he took care of them, gave money for groceries, and rent, money for their childrens back to school clothes, Holiday said. The Harlem Plug is a 266- page biography of Richard "Fritz" Simmons written by the author, Harlem Holiday. He was born without a full set of bones in his foot and it causes physical and emotional problems., Richard found comfort in food and he gained a lot of weight, doc producer Charles Latibeaudiere further revealed. He wanted to be remembered as a guy that millions of people loved and watched. For more information, including speaking engagements and interviews, call 914-768-3192 or visit www.HarlemWestsidePublishing.com, CONNECT, LIKE, and SHARE Ill come back, and Ill come back strong.. Richard Simmons has not been seen in public since Feb. 15, 2014. Richard Simmons has been a flamboyant fitness guru for over 40 years and is one of the most iconic figures in fitness. The LAPD performed a welfare check on Simmons at his plush Hollywood Hills home in 2016, amid concerns his longtime housekeeper Teresa Reveles was holding him against his will. Missing Richard Simmons is Dan's search for Richard - and the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets. Simmons was compared to Greta Garbo, the Oscar-nominated star of the 30s who was fiercely protective of her privacy. From this dirt, God formed some of the worlds most complex and unique hustlers. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I started picturing food as the enemy. If he didnt get one, he might never be able to exercise again. Apparently, the possibility of surgery and a sedimentary life caused Simmons to sink into a deep depression. Richard Simmons is feeling the love, more than 8 years after he disappeared from the public eye, thanking fans for their support and well wishes on the heels of TMZ's documentary about his life. There were three more attempts on known drug dealers between January and March 1991: Roberto Mercedes, Richard "Fritz" Simmons, and David Crumpler. Feb. 15, 2017: Missing Richard Simmons premieres. Simmons once again took the opportunity to squash any sort of wild rumors sparked by the documentary. Though a millionaire many times over, Fritzwas very low key and had frugal habits. "No one is holding me in my house as a hostage, Simmons told Guthrie on the air. On Wednesday, the . Now you do you, Mr. Simmons! (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images). How and why he joined the drug cartels is also captured in detail. The TMZ documentary also highlighted the knee problems Simmons has suffered with since he was a child, as well as his penchant for the quiet life, two things Simmons mentioned while speaking with Savannah. Guys on 112th street were not known for being the flyest dudes in Harlem, or for driving the baddest cars, Sheila Harrison, Fritz half sister said. The lucrative deal unlocks a lavish lifestyle with more money than . Much of what the documentary broke down was information Simmons publicly shared. "There has not been a single paparazzi that has gotten anything of Richard Simmons out in public in more than eight years." After moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Simmons took an interest in healthy living and lost over 100 pounds, but noticed that guys catered to people who were already fit. IE 11 is not supported. The 74-year-old New Orleans native has certainly accomplished a lot and has . ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. Doctors subsequently told him that he also needed a left knee replacement, but he refused have the surgery after being too traumatized by the first operation. "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons," which premiered on August 22, explores what may have led to the fitness guru's decision to stop teaching classes at his studio in . In April 2017, after Simmons was hospitalized for "severe indigestion" at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he posted on Facebook to thank fans for their support. For decades, fans could exercise with Simmons in person at his Beverly Hills fitness studio, Slimmons. Harlem, NY The Harlem Plug is the 266-page biography of Richard Fritz Simmons written by author Harlem Holiday and released during Womens History Month through her imprint, Harlem Westside Publishing. However, Simmons eventually used the birth defect in his foot as fuel to become fit and healthy. Rather, Richard is presumably doing just fine. Fuse Sweat, a new streaming television channel that launched Wednesday as a free . In PEOPLE's exclusive sneak peek at What Really Happened . The Harlem Plug is a 266- page biography of Richard Fritz Simmons written by the author, Harlem Holiday. The strips of bacon looked so weak, so flimsy, so sad, until they hit the frying pan. One person never transported Barnes drugs from the pick-up location to the drop-off location. Fourscore and twenty years later, a flood of soot and decay eclipsed everything delicate north of 110th street. But, while viewers loved the campy persona that Simmons presented to the public, he became a punchline for comedians across the country and it took a private toll on him. The lucrative deal unlocks a lavish lifestyle with more money than . In the special, Suzanne Somers spoke about her last interaction with Richard Simmons. Thats why he disappeared.". SUZANNE SOMERS SAYS THIGHMASTER SAVED HER AFTER BEING FIRED: 'I'M STILL STANDING', "I said, 'Why?' Ive had hair transplants, but you can only do so much, so I have 12 hairs left and I just spray them, toss them and make it look like a salad. The statement surfaced on the heels of the release of TMZ's new documentary, What Really Happened to Richard Simmons. Keeping an extremely private home life seems to have been his coping technique, but it did lead to some loneliness, and Somers believes his insecurities intensified over the years. LOL, he jokingly added. Further details reveal his involvement with local kingpins and why the ransom negotiations infamously went awry. YouTube @AuthorHarlemHoliday Somers also shared the last interaction she had with her friend in the doc. Simmons interviews detailed the bullying he suffered in his childhood, his relationship with food (including disordered eating that led to him losing 137 pounds, but he nearly died in the process), and the emotional responsibility he felt to his supporters. When I saw spaghetti, I saw worms. And although he managed to shed the pounds, he never managed to shed the insecurity that accompanied his obesity and the birth defect he kept concealed from everybody. Still, his housekeeper is "a fiercely loyal employee and friend.". It's one of the great mysteries in pop culture - a man who was everywhere suddenly vanishes. . She retired at age 35 and moved to New York City, where she led a private life until her death in 1990 at age 84. In 2017, a woman alleging to have known Simmons for 35 years told the outlet that knee problems have kept Simmons in "virtual hiding. I was the largest child in school. bylines: XXL, Black Perspectives, Ozy, Washington Post, among several others. Clad in hot pants and bedazzled tank tops, the superstars light-hearted approach helped make fitness feel fun and accessible to overweight Americans who had long been intimidated by sculpted and self-serious trainers. And thats why he disappeared. Vilanch said Simmons was like Greta Garbo in that way, who retired at 45 and lived 50 more years after that. What is The Harlem Plug: The Richard "Fritz" Simmons story about? That legacy remains rock solid, despite his disappearance from the spotlight. Love, Richard," read the message, which was posted next to a photo of a smiling emoji holding a "Thank you" sign. As Fritz revealed, similar to other stars like Pete Davidson, he'd been diagnosed with Crohn's disease and that is what was causing his transformation. Its almost like were a married couple," he said at the time. It featured interviews with Denise Austin, Suzanne Somers, as well as pal Bruce Vilanch and Simmons longtime costume designer Leslie Wilshire. Jeff Probst Dishes on Survivor 44s Sophisticated Players, Night Court: Faith Ford Breaks Down Her Joyous Guest Star Appearance. (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images). Did You Get the Final Jeopardy! Right During Tonights High School Reunion Tournament? But doesn't that show you he's got a heartache? He is an American fitness personality and actor who has made millions . His representative, Tom Estey released a statement, Richard is eternally grateful for the continuous outpouring of love and gratitude he has received from across the globe. Barnes, who is also from 112th street, never left Harlem, but he bought and lived in a luxurious condo in Washington Heights. ", Still, Simmons has endured some heartache. educated: real life. While the documentary explored some far-out theories including that Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper the real explanation was finally revealed. His 1988 VHS Sweatin To The Oldies became the biggest-selling home fitness video of all time, grossing more than $200 million. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. His bestselling fitness tape, Sweatin to the Oldies, grossed more than $200 million alone. The spotlight what happened to richard fritz'' simmons well as pal Bruce vilanch and Simmons longtime costume designer Leslie Wilshire her in! Classes and he said, Shell make fun of me. ) wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a pistol. 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