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Richard Simmons, who has not been seen publicly since February 2014, was hospitalized for stomach problems on Monday. The embattled fitness guru and recent podcast subject has now spoken out publicly for the first time in three years, assuring fans that he is “not ‘missing.’”
In an exclusive statement to People Magazine, Simmons thanked fans for their well wishes and assured them that he was alright:
Hello to everyone who has shown concern for me and sent their good wishes. You will never know how much it means to me. Aren’t you sick of hearing and reading about me?! LOL Well by now you know that I’m not ‘missing,’ just a little under the weather. I’m sure I will be feeling good and back home in a couple of days.
Missing Richard Simmons, a popular and somewhat controversial podcast devoted to the mystery of why Simmons disappeared from the public eye, has pushed the former television personality to the center of the zeitgeist as of late, and raised questions about the ethics of "mystery" podcasts.
Related: A Conversation With The Man Trying To Find Richard Simmons