INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

‘Today’ Show Plays Taped Richard Simmons Telephone Interview, But Lack Of Appearance Raises More Questions

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 07:36 PST, Mar 14, 2016

This morning, a taped telephone interview with Richard Simmons was played on the Today show. The conversation was of poor quality and obviously taped from a telephone chat with Savannah Guthrie, star of the Today show. Some fans were relieved to hear the voice of Richard Simmons, while others thought that it would have put minds at ease and ended the concerns if Simmons had appeared on the Today show or another media venue live and in person.

According to the Inquisitr, a wave of concern went out over the weekend for the welfare of Richard Simmons. Although he might actually be physically fine and truly wants to hide out from public view, it does seem odd that the extroverted fitness enthusiast who reached so many depressed and out-of-shape people would not want any human contact but with his agent and his maid. Close friend Mauro Oliveira has stressed that it was not the decision of Richard Simmons to withdraw from the public and from his friends.

The New York Daily News says that Richard Simmons taped interview with the Today show raised more questions about Richard Simmons’ safety. Friend Mauro Oliveira, who raised the alarm that Richard Simmons was being held against his will, said the taped telephone interview has only caused more concern.

“He didn’t sound like he was in a good place,” Oliveira explained.

Oliveira said that while he is happy that the public got to hear from Simmons, it is more curious that he did not appear live and in person. Until Simmons appears in person, Oliveira says his level of concern will remain the same. Simmons, the effervescent fitness guru, claimed on tape that he now prefers to be a loner and wants to be left alone.

“I just kind of wanted to be a little bit of a loner for a while,” Simmons said.

Oliveira said he doesn’t sound like the Richard Simmons that he knows.

Oliveira said that to him, Simmons sounded very depressed, and he is concerned because he knows that Simmons has had mental health problems in the past, stemming from a rough childhood and weight struggles. The bottom line is that Richard Simmons’ friends won’t be happy until they see his face. The last photograph of note of Richard Simmons was on TMZ in 2014. Simmons says he wants to be alone, and he wants to just do nothing.

“Until he shows his face, no one will believe he is really OK, and the mystery will continue,” said one longtime friend of Simmons.

The Los Angeles Times said that Richard Simmons is emphatic that his housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, is not controlling him, and he is not being held against his will. But it is curious that Simmons is refusing to go on air when obviously he was willing to do a telephone interview.

“So people should just believe what I have to say, because, like, I’m Richard Simmons.”

Simmons obviously deserves privacy, but his friends and fans also deserve to have their concerns allayed. While the telephone interview provided “proof of life,” that isn’t enough for some.

Fans are saying that the telephone interview with Richard Simmons confirmed that Simmons is depressed, and it did not seem to change the opinion that Simmons was avoiding being seen.

Do you think the Richard Simmons interview was convincing?

[Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]

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