Known for his quirky personality, flamboyant short shorts and infectious enthusiasm for exercise, Richard Simmons has confirmed that his Los Angeles fitness studio, Slimmons, is closing its doors next month. Simmons’ reclusiveness was a large factor in the closure, TMZ reported. The fitness guru hasn’t been seen in public since 2014 and no longer appeared at the studio he opened in 1974, the site said. Interviews Simmons gave to ET and “Today” earlier this year were done via phone. After the news broke Friday, the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” creator took to Facebook to confirm the news:
Simmons wrote on his website that opening Slimmons Studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, was “one of my biggest joys.” After opening the studio in 1974, he became a household name thanks to the popular “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series of aerobics videos and his frequent appearances on late-night talk shows and his eccentric personality.
While he’s stayed out of the spotlight the past few years, Simmons has remained a source of inspiration via his social media pages, Faceboooking and tweeting as “The Weight Saint” and posting motivational messages, old photos and more.
