Richard Simmons' Rep Addresses Claims That He's Being Held ''Hostage''

New podcast has brought more light to the fitness guru's living situation

By Lily Harrison Mar 07, 2017 3:20 AMTags
Richard Simmons, 10/13Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Richard Simmons' publicist is speaking out about the latest allegations surrounding his personal life.

The fitness guru is the subject of a new popular podcast called Missing Richard Simmons which documents Dan Taberski's mission to solving exactly why Simmons has been MIA from the public eye for several years.

In the latest episode of the series, Taberski talks to Simmons' longtime friend and former masseuse, Mauro Oliveira, who claims that the 68-year-old is being held at his Los Angeles home against his will be his maid, Teresa Reveles.

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Tom Estey, a spokesperson for the once high-energy television personality and workout connoisseur, explains to E! News that all is well at the Simmons household despite the latest allegations.

"Teresa has been working with him for 27 years. So, holding him hostage is the biggest, I mean…Teresa is the housekeeper, she's the caretaker, she is extraordinary, she is amazing, she takes impeccable care of Richard and she has for as long as I have been working with Richard. So that is a complete load of crap."

Estey further explained that his client has made the decision to "live a more private life" on his own.

"People claim that it happened overnight. It really didn't. We were turning down stuff for years and just kind of quieting down, and when he decides that he wants to come back, that's when he'll come back, and when that will be, I have no idea or if he will at all. There really isn't anything to report."

Lastly, Estey tells us, "We did not cooperate nor participate in this podcast because we didn't feel the need to nor did we want to. All these things distract from his legacy and I will not allow that to happen because this man is a world treasure. He has helped millions of people lose millions of pounds. He has saved millions of lives, spent millions and millions of his own money helping and saving people's lives. This man is a saint, so treat him like a saint and leave him alone."

Simmons was last seen in public in February 2014, but he released a statement amid growing conspiracies as to his whereabouts last June.

"I am finally taking my own advice. I am being kind to myself and putting myself first," he explained in a statement on his official Facebook page.

"I am making changes and taking time to do the things I want to do. Please know that I am in good health and I am happy. No one has ever been able to tell me what to do and the same is true today."