Richard Simmons’ Publicist Refutes Claims Of Hostage Situation With Housekeeper Teresa Reveles

Richard Simmons‘ publicist, Tom Estey, is again refuting claims that the weight loss guru is missing or being held hostage by his housekeeper.

The claims stem partly from the new hit podcast, Missing Richard Simmons. Created by former Daily Show producer Dan Taberski, the podcast aired in February 2017 with the episode “Where’s Richard?” Taberski, a friend and former student of Simmons, wanted to find out why the fitness guru disappeared from the public eye in 2014.  The show has been met with great acclaim, and described as “gripping and icky,” “brilliant” and “just like ‘Serial.'”

In episode 3, titled “The Maid and the Masseuse,” Taberski speaks with Simmons’ longtime friend and former masseuse Mauro Oliveira, who recounts his story of his last sighting of Simmons.

“It was 6 p.m., and I went into his house. He was sitting in the living room, and he was very weak, physically and mentally. He was trembling. He said, ‘Mauro. I called you here because we cannot see each other anymore. I’m just going to stay here,'” Olveira recalled of his last sighting of Simmons in May 2014.

“People claim that it happened overnight. It really didn’t. We were turning down stuff for years and just kind of quieting down, and when he decides that he wants to come back, that’s when he’ll come back, and when that will be, I have no idea or if he will at all. There really isn’t anything to report,” he continued.

Oliveira also described the disturbing interaction he had with Simmons’ housekeeper Teresa Reveles.

“She realized that I was in the house, she started screaming like a witch, ‘No, no, no, no, get out, get out! I don’t want him here!’ Richard looked at me and said, ‘You got to go.’ I said, ‘Really? Is she controlling your life now?’ and he said, ‘Yes.’ And that I have to leave.”

Etsey countered the claims in a statement, assuring fans that Simmons is doing well despite his public absence.

“Teresa has been working with him for 27 years. So, holding him hostage is the biggest, I mean… Teresa is the housekeeper, she’s the caretaker, she is extraordinary, she is amazing, she takes impeccable care of Richard and she has for as long as I have been working with Richard. So that is a complete load of crap,” Etsey said.

The publicist stressed that Simmon decided on his own to lead a life away from the limelight, and that it was a gradual change.

“People claim that it happened overnight. It really didn’t. We were turning down stuff for years and just kind of quieting down, and when he decides that he wants to come back, that’s when he’ll come back, and when that will be, I have no idea or if he will at all. There really isn’t anything to report,” he continued.

“We did not cooperate nor participate in this podcast because we didn’t feel the need to nor did we want to. All these things distract from his legacy and I will not allow that to happen because this man is a world treasure. He has helped millions of people lose millions of pounds. He has saved millions of lives, spent millions and millions of his own money helping and saving people’s lives. This man is a saint, so treat him like a saint and leave him alone,” Estey said.

Simmons was last seen in public in February 2014. He has, however, remained fairly active on social media. On Facebook, Simmons assured his fans he was doing well.

“I am finally taking my own advice. I am being kind to myself and putting myself first,” the 68-year-old wrote on Facebook. “I am making changes and taking time to do the things I want to do. Please know that I am in good health and I am happy. No one has ever been able to tell me what to do and the same is true today.”