NO SWEAT

Police Rush To Richard Simmons’ Mansion After Concerned Friend Fears The Worst

Screen shot 2015-01-26 at 10.21.54 AMTwo LAPD officers showed up to Richard Simmons’ Hollywood Hills home Friday evening after a concerned friend contacted them fearing the Sweatin’ to the Oldies star was in trouble, TMZ reports.

The friend was worried because Simmons hasn’t been seen in almost a year. Afraid the fitness guru was being abused, he emailed the L.A. County D.A.’s Elder Abuse Unit. When officers showed up for a welfare check, Simmons answered the door. He was sporting a long tangly beard.

Police say the 66-year-old was very gracious and appeared to be in good health as he welcomed them into his mansion.

According to TMZ, Simmons went MIA about a year ago, shortly after appearing in this amazing online ad for Bumble Bee tuna. He cut himself off from his friends, stopped going into his Beverly Hills fitness studio, and hasn’t made any public appearances. Friends say this sort of behavior is not like him, and that there is no way Simmons would voluntarily shut himself off like this. They believe something sinister must be going on.

His manager, however, says Simmons is depressed over a knee injury and that’s why he hasn’t left the house.

Simmons told officers Friday that he was “exhausted” after living the past 30 years in the public eye. “I just want to spend time with myself,” he said. Then he added that he keeps in regular touch with the people who matter most to him.

And as for his fitness studio, “I’ve got people who run things. I don’t need to be there,” he said.

Police say Simmons was walking with a slight limp, which is “consistent with a knee injury.”

Here’s hoping he’s able to pull himself out of this funk.

Get well soon, Richard!

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