Richard Simmons Sounds Off on Announced Biopic
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 09: Richard Simmons attends day 3 of the 2013 LA Gay Pride Festival on June 9, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic)
Richard Simmons took a strong stance after it was announced that his life will be made into a biopic starring Pauly Shore.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Simmons, 75, took to Facebook to sound off on the current plans to turn his life into a feature film.
"Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore," he noted in the update. "I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read."
He continued, "I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful."
Before signing off his note, he thanked his fans for all their "love and support."
So, if Simmons didn't agree to the project, how did this planned biopic come to fruition?
According to Variety, Shore, 55, already portrays the fitness legend in a short film, titled The Court Jester, which is set to debut at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, Jan. 19. Although it's said the two films are "unrelated."
The new biopic is reportedly in development at a Warner Bros. subsidiary, called The Wolper Organization.
“I’m really excited about sharing Richard Simmons’s life with the world,” Shore shared with the outlet on Wednesday. “We all need this biopic now more than ever. Simmons represented mental health, getting people in shape and being his authentic silly self! Whenever he was on TV you could never take your eyes off of him and he brought such a joy to his appearances that represented nothing but a good time.”
We're not sure how fans will respond to the new film, as many have already voiced their support for Simmons online. One follower commented on his Facebook post, "You deserve peace! You’ve helped so many over the years, time to yourself first! We love you!!"
Another weighed in, "I love both you and Pauly Shore, and I support you if you don’t wish to have this movie made."
Only time will tell if the biopic gets out of the development stage.
