Richard Simmons emerged from hiding to disavow a new biopic starring comedian Pauly Shore as the fitness guru.
Simmons, 75, made a rare public statement hours after news broke that a biopic was being released.
“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore,” he wrote on Facebook. “I have never given my permission for this movie. 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. Thank you for all your love and support.”
Prior to the announcement, Shore said he “reached out” to Simmons about portraying him in a film.
“I’ve noticed all the reactions to me playing Richard Simmons in a new biopic,” he wrote on Facebook. “I heard he’s living deep in Big Bear. We’ve been playing phone tag (yes, he still has a phone). I’m trying to make it happen for you guys. Be optimistic.”
On Wednesday, Shore announced his new project.
“I’m really excited about sharing Richard Simmons’s life with the world,” said Shore in a statement. “We all need this biopic now more than ever. Simmons represented mental health, getting people in shape and being his authentic silly self! Whenever he was on TV you could never take your eyes off of him and he brought such a joy to his appearances that represented nothing but a good time.”
However, Simmons wasn’t too pleased with the announcement, saying he did not authorize the film.
The filmmakers responded to Simmons’ concerns.
“While we would love to have him involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story,” said The Wolper Organization in a statement.
“We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, how ever he is an amazing person, that changed millions of peoples lives and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”
Simmons rose to fame in the 1970s with countless books and workout videos. Once a fixture in suburban housewives’ homes, he exited the public life in 2014.
The biopic follows the unrelated short film The Court Jester in which Shore also plays Simmons and premieres on January 19 at the Sundance Film Festival.
We miss sweating to the oldies with you, Richard Simmons!
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