The Harlem Plug also reveals events leading up to Fritzs own mysterious, untimely death. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, was being held hostage by his housekeeper, undergoing gender reassignment surgery to live as a woman named Fiona,. He basically went MIA until June 2016, when Simmons turned . Simmons was one of Hollywoods biggest stars for more than three decades before he suddenly disappeared from the public eye in 2014. QB had a cocaine addiction that had a negative impact on her behavior, eventually destroying her relationship with Fritz. I said, Why? and he said, Shell make fun of me. And thats not my style, I never make fun of anybody. In Harlem Holiday, the author brings out the real facts as to who the true Richard Simmons was after almost three decades of speculation. (Moses Robinson/Getty Images), "He wanted to be remembered as a vibrant, healthy man," the doc claimed, "not an elderly man with medical problems. ", Still, Simmons has endured some heartache. Who was Richard "Fritz" Simmons? People should always believe what I have to say, because Im Richard Simmons.. It's one of the great mysteries in pop culture - a man who was everywhere suddenly vanishes. One night I was on the Larry King Show and he was either going to be a guest or supposed to be a guest, and I heard through the Larry King people that he didnt want to be on the show with me, Somers detailed. There were three more attempts on known drug dealers between January and March 1991: Roberto Mercedes, Richard "Fritz" Simmons, and David Crumpler. Simmons born on July 12, 1948 was raised in New Orleans, a legendary culinary destination about which he claimed lard was a food group and dessert was mandatory., The workout king claimed he came out of his mothers womb with a fork in his 1999 memoir Still Hungry After All These Years: My Story., I could recognize a package of bacon at 20 feet, he recalled. IE 11 is not supported. In April 2017, after Simmons was hospitalized for "severe indigestion" at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he posted on Facebook to thank fans for their support. According to the doc, theres a surprisingly simple reason why Simmons retreated from the spotlight. However, the U.S. government backed the overthrow of Albanias government, and Henry Kissinger signed off on Argentinas Dirty War. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images). This is the highly anticipated biography of Harlem's own urban legend known as '112th Street Fritz.'. Richard Simmons, who is the subject of a new documentary about why he retreated from public view, addressed fans in a new Facebook post Wednesday. Some choices, although wrong, could have been overlooked as right, because of the community good that was done in an urban Robin Hood kind of way.. NOTE TO EDITORS: Even at the height of his fame, the publicly bold and brash Simmons preferred to spend nights at home alone, with a barren social calendar that made both Boo Radley and Howard Hughes look like socialites. On Wednesday, the 74-year-old fitness guru shared a brief message with fans on Facebook to express gratitude for their support. The first episode of TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons was released on FOX and Hulu on August 22, 2022. How Did John Wayne Gacy Die? Many drug organizations ran 812 hour work shifts morning, afternoon and night, and workers received their pay at the end of the work week. Popular underworld crews like The Supreme Team, The Chambers Brothers or The Council had lieutenants, disciplinarians, and workers. Legal Statement. Simmons once again took the opportunity to squash any sort of wild rumors sparked by the documentary. Advertisement The incident took place near the 64-year-old's Hollywood Hills home, and miraculously was caught on tape . In an emotional interview from the 1980s, Simmons admitted, I went through a lot of hurt as a child. We know still that to this day, Richard still hasnt gotten corrective surgery on his left knee, TMZs Harvey Levin reveals in the doc. However, the right-knee replacement was painful, and delayed work on his left knee. Validity sits on her new book, The Harlem Plug: The Richard Fritz Simmons Story. If he didnt get one, he might never be able to exercise again. Apparently, the possibility of surgery and a sedimentary life caused Simmons to sink into a deep depression. He fell off the grid, and even cut off his closest friends. But doesnt that show you hes got a heartache? A June 2016 cover of the National Enquirer, for example, read: "Richard Simmons: He's Now a Woman." Airs tonight at 8/7c on @foxtv pic.twitter.com/SkFIJy6gts, Ultimately, the documentary lands at the conclusion that Simmons left the public eye because of a double knee replacement that affected his ability to exercise and his desire to retire. "And if he didnt get one, he might never be able to exercise again. The majority of the documentary analyzes Simmons past interviews, combing through footage from the peak of his fame conventions, TV appearances, fan interactions in public, the works. Simmons interviews detailed the bullying he suffered in his childhood, his relationship with food (including disordered eating that led to him losing 137 pounds, but he nearly died in the process), and the emotional responsibility he felt to his supporters. The lucrative deal unlocks a lavish lifestyle with more money than . My original screenplay, Trapped, addressed key issues and transformations in my life, Faison wrote in his memoir, Game Over. 30S STAR GRETA GARBO HAD A VERY ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE' AFTER LEAVING HOLLYWOOD BEHIND, GREAT-NEPHEW SAYS, Richard Simmons in 2013. How Did Jayo Sama Die? Men like Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas, and Azie Faison found their timeless lives romanticized on the big-screen thanks to films like Hoodlum, The Godfather of Harlem, American Gangster, and Paid in Full, respectively. Instead of assembling a crew to handle the drugs like most drug dealers do, Fritz gave the coke away on consignment. Richard Simmons' mysterious disappearance from public life gets put under the microscope in a new documentary that aims to find out what the fitness icon has been up to since he was last seen . It only took Fritz two weeks to get rid of the 15 kilos, earning the nickname The Consignment King. Soon thereafter, Ace was helping Fritz transport boxes of kilos from the Bronx to Harlem. Before he retreated from the public eye in 2014, Simmons would greet tour buses that stopped by his Hollywood Hills home and personally call fans to support their weight loss efforts. This is because Richard's . Doctors subsequently told him that he also needed a left knee replacement, but he allegedly refused to do so after being too traumatized by the first operation. When TMZ began promoting "What Really Happened to Richard Simmons," many assumed it was because he had died. Richard Simmons pal recalls time before disappearance: We had so much fun, Richard Simmons breaks silence, tells The Post hes living the life he has chosen, Suzanne Somers: My last meeting with broken Richard Simmons before disappearance, Us Weekly transition off to a rocky start. I wanted to take a moment to send a big thank you to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center during my short stay there this week, wrote the star. ", The special also alleged that there is one LAPD detective, who didnt want to be identified, but who has talked to Simmons over the years. How Did Monses Mom Die? Despite amassing millions of dollars, Fritz never moved out of his cramped apartment at 109 112th street. One person never transported Barnes drugs from the pick-up location to the drop-off location. Filmmaker Dan Taberskis released the Missing Richard Simmons podcast in February 2017. That officer, who remained anonymous, said that Simmons didnt want to be remembered as this frail guy. A TMZ executive producer also revealed that he spoke with an LAPD officer who has been in contact with Simmons in recent years. He walks with a cane and that explains a lot. TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons - TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons: What really happened to Richard Simmons? TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons looks into the various theories as to why we've not seen Simmons, including talk of his housekeeper holding him hostage, Simmons . The hushed hustler from 112th street supplied some of NYCs biggest drug dealers, including Rich Porter. . "I am very excited that my groundbreaking fitness series of Sweatin to the Oldies still is so relevant and popular and I hope many new fans will discover this timeless classic," he said in a statement. (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images). I felt like someone took my life, commercialized it, and stripped it of all the truth, and power it formerly contained, Faison wrote. Richard Simmons was the subject of a TMZ special that aired Monday night on FOX. Often noted for his candy-striped bicycle shorts and bedazzled tank tops, Richard Simmons was a fixture in American fitness and popular culture. Thats when he decided to make it his mission to create a fitness environment open to people of all shapes and sizes. The 74-year-old fitness guru shared a message with fans just days after the premiere of a new TMZ documentary about his disappearance from the spotlight. It also explored the complexity of life as a hustler. It's one of the great mysteries in pop culture - a man who was everywhere suddenly vanishes. He was born without a full set of bones in his foot and it causes physical and emotional problems., Richard found comfort in food and he gained a lot of weight, doc producer Charles Latibeaudiere further revealed. . Richard fritz simmons rich porter intro to the harlem messiah. As much as Fritz kept his circle small, he was in total harmony with everyone on 112th street. Somethings broken inside because he did it. Feb. 15, 2017: Missing Richard Simmons premieres. This is the highly anticipated biography of Harlems own urban legend known as 112th Street Fritz.. Richard Simmons has helped to change so many peoples lives, as they looked to him for health and fitness motivation. "No one is holding me in my house as a hostage, Simmons told Guthrie on the air. 1 season available (1 episode) What really happened to Richard Simmons? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Richard Porter walked down a cold Harlem street in December 1990 wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a loaded pistol. While the documentary explored some far-out theories including that Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper the real explanation was finally revealed. The account of events, as told by Fritzs closest friends and family, includes research gathered from newspaper clippings, magazine articles, social media, blogs, and court transcriptsfully disclosed. Fritz spirit juxtaposes mythical aura, but hes no myth. Then they began swimming and dancing, lacing up at the sides and turning golden brown., As a teenager, Simmons tastes matured, but he still opted for calorie-heavy options, writing: Puberty was graduating from Thousand Island salad dressing to Caesar salads from hot dogs and hamburgers to beef stroganoff from ice cream in a cone to crme brule.. The older folks in the neighborhood loved Fritz because he took care of them, gave money for groceries, and rent, money for their childrens back to school clothes, Holiday said. Richard Simmons hasn't left his house in years. As Farber shows in Crack, moving large-scale cocaine, running a crack house, or controlling a block requires precise planning, careful advertising, start-up money and reliable workers. They make you feel good even though youre in the hospital for feeling bad.. Richard Simmons has been a flamboyant fitness guru for over 40 years and is one of the most iconic figures in fitness. Guys on 112th street were not known for being the flyest dudes in Harlem, or for driving the baddest cars, Sheila Harrison, Fritz half sister said. Along with larger-than-life individuals from Harlem, the sub-borough is known for its fashion. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Richard Simmons' Final Year in the Public Eye The documentary, titled TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons , premiered on Hulu and FOX on Aug. 22. U.S. government backed the overthrow of Albanias government, Henry Kissinger signed off on Argentinas Dirty War. 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He is happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live., Simmons also posted his own brief Facebook statement on Aug. 24, 2022, thanking supporters for Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love!. TMZ addresses the various theories and, in the end, has an answer - why Richard just disappeared. Simmons turned to starvation, diet pills, and bulimia to shrink down to 119 pounds. Fritz was introduced into the drug trade by an associate of the mafia. Arent you sick of hearing and reading about me?! Suzanne Somers said Simmons may have been riddled with "insecurities". We've received your submission. Circumstances surrounding his death though still remain a mystery. In 2021, Simmons revealed that he hoped a new generation of fans would be introduced to his classic exercise series, "Sweatin to the Oldies." After negotiating a deal with the Medelln Cartel, Fritz becomes New York's Cocaine Consignment King. Simmons was quick to respond to the buzz surrounding the podcast. I went to my first Halloween party dressed as a couch. When the star suddenly vanished, he didn't have a six-foot-tall fence surrounding his mansion. The documentary claimed that Simmons delayed his second surgery because he was worried about being able to bounce back after the procedure and whether it would worsen any ailments. But thats when I realized a little insecurity has gotten in there. And thats why he disappeared. Vilanch said Simmons was like Greta Garbo in that way, who retired at 45 and lived 50 more years after that. He was last seen publicly over eight years ago. Though a millionaire many times over, Fritzwas very low key and had frugal habits. But, as the documentary details, Simmons abruptly stopped teaching at the studio in February 2014 without providing an explanation. Richard Simmons is speaking out publicly for the first time in years following the release of a new TMZ documentary focusing on his mysterious disappearance from the spotlight. 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