Police have responded to allegations that Simmons is being held hostage by his housekeeper, but an LAPD source says, 'None of it is true.'
- March 11, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Richard Simmons is perfectly fine, despite concern about his whereabouts and well-being as he seems to be missing since 2014. In a recent episode of popular podcast "Finding Richard Simmons", his former massage therapist and friend Mauro Oliveira contended that Simmons is being held hostage by his housekeeper Teresa Reveles.
Simmons had denied the allegations in 2016 during a chat with "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie. "Teresa Reveles has been with me for 30 years, it's almost like we're a married couple," he said at the time.
His rep echoed Simmons' statement earlier this week, saying, "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." He additionally called the claims "a complete load of crap."
But that didn't stop the theory and speculation. Apparently responding to these allegations, LAPD has conducted welfare check on Simmons at his home in Los Angeles. And according to the police, the fitness guru is "perfectly fine and happy."
Detective Kevin Becker tells PEOPLE, "There was something about his housekeeper holding him hostage and not allowing people to see him and preventing him from making phone calls and it was all garbage and that's why we went out to see him. None of it is true. The fact of the matter is we went out and talked to him he is fine, nobody is holding him hostage. He is doing exactly what he wants to do. If he wants to go out in public or see anybody he will do that."
"He is perfectly fine and he is very happy. I don't know what he is going to do, but right now he is doing what he wants to do and it is his business," Becker adds. Of how Simmons reacted to the police's visit, Becker says, "He was very nice. He was very cordial. He couldn't have been nicer to us."
His spokesman Tom Estey also says in an email to USA Today, "Yes, he's fine, as I have been saying for the last six weeks and the last six months. I'm not aware of who asked for the Wellness Check but it wasn't I nor anyone else in Richard's camp, as we all know he is fine."
