It's been three years since Richard Simmons vanished from the spotlight and the public has been trying to figure out what the 68-year-old fitness guru has been up to ever since.
Rumors have been swirling for a while about where Simmons is. Some believe he is transitioning into a woman, while others think that he is depressed. There was even a podcast started called "Missing Richard Simmons" that tried to find out the true story.
But now, Michael Catalano, Simmons's rep, is telling the truth to People about what the fitness star.
“I said to him the other day, ‘There are people that think you are a very overweight, depressed woman.’ And he laughed. He just laughed," said the rep.
Catalano saw Simmons just last week and said that the star is in "excellent health." Despite his hospital visit in June 2016 for dehydration, the rep confirms that the star has kept his weight at a healthy 150 pounds and now has a salt-and-pepper beard.
Catalano did say that all the rumors, especially the transitioning one, are very hurtful to Simmons.
“That was absolutely untrue, hurtful and very, very damaging to Richard personally. He’s very aware of what’s happening, you know, but it’s tough," said Catalano.
The rep also explained that Simmons has been MIA because he wanted a break from the limelight that he was in for the last 40 years.
“It was always about everybody else first and I think this is a little bit reflection time. It doesn’t mean he’s done, but for now, he’s enjoying the time away from the public,” he said.