Richard Simmons Says He's 'Fine and Happy' in Rare Public Statement After Denying Involvement in Biopic Starring Pauly Shore

Mar. 15, 2025

Richard Simmons.Richard Simmons spoke out for the second time about the biopic in development about his lifeThe fitness guru, 74, said he has not given permission for the film and has denied any involvementRichard Simmons said he is doing well and hopes to maintain his “quiet life”Richard Simmonsis letting his fans know that he’s doing well despite the recent media attention.On Monday, the 74-year-old posted amessageon Facebook sharing that he plans to remain out of the spotlight.“Hi Everybody! I wanted you all to know that I am fine and I am happy,” he wrote. “I have had a lot of people ask me for interviews. But right now I don’t want to do them. It is a gray and rainy day here in Los Angeles, but my heart is filled with your kindness towards me. Love, Richard.“The fitness guru first took a break from his “quiet life” last week to share amessageon Facebook addressing the news that there’s a biopic coming out about his life.“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie,” he wrote. “So don’t believe everything you read.”“I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful,” he continued. “Thank you for all your love and support.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Pauly Shore and Richard Simmons.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Jason Kempin/GettySimmons’ message comes as it was announced thatPauly Shore, who in September said he “can definitely morph into” Simmons in response to a viral meme, will play the media icon in a feature-length film from Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization, perThe Hollywood Reporterand other outlets.At the time,Shore told PEOPLEthat he thinks so many people are responding to the idea of a Simmons biopic because of how he touched their lives.“He helped so many people,” Shore said. “If you read people talking about him, they’d always be like, ‘I was 400 pounds and Richard Simmons saved my life!’ He was all about positivity and helping people. And there’s so much angst and divisiveness in the world, so I think a dose of that positivity is what people need. A Richard Simmons movie could unite America!“The upcoming feature film is being developed as a “dramatic and heartfelt feature in the tone ofLittle Miss Sunshine,” Mark Wolper of The Wolper Organization said, perVariety.The Wolper Organization commented on Simmons' lack of involvement in the project in a statement toVariety: “While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.”The production company added, “We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, however he is an amazing person that changed millions of peoples’ lives, and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”

Richard Simmons.

Richard Simmons spoke out for the second time about the biopic in development about his lifeThe fitness guru, 74, said he has not given permission for the film and has denied any involvementRichard Simmons said he is doing well and hopes to maintain his “quiet life”Richard Simmonsis letting his fans know that he’s doing well despite the recent media attention.On Monday, the 74-year-old posted amessageon Facebook sharing that he plans to remain out of the spotlight.“Hi Everybody! I wanted you all to know that I am fine and I am happy,” he wrote. “I have had a lot of people ask me for interviews. But right now I don’t want to do them. It is a gray and rainy day here in Los Angeles, but my heart is filled with your kindness towards me. Love, Richard.“The fitness guru first took a break from his “quiet life” last week to share amessageon Facebook addressing the news that there’s a biopic coming out about his life.“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie,” he wrote. “So don’t believe everything you read.”“I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful,” he continued. “Thank you for all your love and support.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Pauly Shore and Richard Simmons.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Jason Kempin/GettySimmons’ message comes as it was announced thatPauly Shore, who in September said he “can definitely morph into” Simmons in response to a viral meme, will play the media icon in a feature-length film from Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization, perThe Hollywood Reporterand other outlets.At the time,Shore told PEOPLEthat he thinks so many people are responding to the idea of a Simmons biopic because of how he touched their lives.“He helped so many people,” Shore said. “If you read people talking about him, they’d always be like, ‘I was 400 pounds and Richard Simmons saved my life!’ He was all about positivity and helping people. And there’s so much angst and divisiveness in the world, so I think a dose of that positivity is what people need. A Richard Simmons movie could unite America!“The upcoming feature film is being developed as a “dramatic and heartfelt feature in the tone ofLittle Miss Sunshine,” Mark Wolper of The Wolper Organization said, perVariety.The Wolper Organization commented on Simmons' lack of involvement in the project in a statement toVariety: “While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.”The production company added, “We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, however he is an amazing person that changed millions of peoples’ lives, and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”

Richard Simmonsis letting his fans know that he’s doing well despite the recent media attention.

On Monday, the 74-year-old posted amessageon Facebook sharing that he plans to remain out of the spotlight.

“Hi Everybody! I wanted you all to know that I am fine and I am happy,” he wrote. “I have had a lot of people ask me for interviews. But right now I don’t want to do them. It is a gray and rainy day here in Los Angeles, but my heart is filled with your kindness towards me. Love, Richard.”

The fitness guru first took a break from his “quiet life” last week to share amessageon Facebook addressing the news that there’s a biopic coming out about his life.

“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie,” he wrote. “So don’t believe everything you read.”

“I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful,” he continued. “Thank you for all your love and support.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Pauly Shore and Richard Simmons.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Jason Kempin/Getty

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Jason Kempin/Getty

Simmons’ message comes as it was announced thatPauly Shore, who in September said he “can definitely morph into” Simmons in response to a viral meme, will play the media icon in a feature-length film from Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization, perThe Hollywood Reporterand other outlets.

At the time,Shore told PEOPLEthat he thinks so many people are responding to the idea of a Simmons biopic because of how he touched their lives.

“He helped so many people,” Shore said. “If you read people talking about him, they’d always be like, ‘I was 400 pounds and Richard Simmons saved my life!’ He was all about positivity and helping people. And there’s so much angst and divisiveness in the world, so I think a dose of that positivity is what people need. A Richard Simmons movie could unite America!”

The upcoming feature film is being developed as a “dramatic and heartfelt feature in the tone ofLittle Miss Sunshine,” Mark Wolper of The Wolper Organization said, perVariety.

The Wolper Organization commented on Simmons' lack of involvement in the project in a statement toVariety: “While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.”

The production company added, “We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, however he is an amazing person that changed millions of peoples’ lives, and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”

source: people.com