Richard’s Big Secret: Simmons Dressing Like A Woman In Public!
Mar. 15 2016, Updated 2:35 p.m. ET
Is Richard Simmons really living the lonely life of a hermit? Amid new concerns for his health, RadarOnline.com has learned he told a police officer during a welfare check last year that he sometimes dresses as a woman in public!
Is Richard Simmons really living the lonely life of a hermit? Amid new concerns for his health, RadarOnline.com has learned he told a police officer during a welfare check last year that he sometimes dresses as a woman in public!
According to a source, Simmons said he has been venturing out in public, but tries to stay completely unrecognizable because he doesn't want to interact with his fans.
Simmons, 67, told the LAPD during a welfare check last year that "he goes out a lot,” an insider told RadarOnline.com. “Even sometimes dressed as a woman. Richard went into great detail about the outfits he would wear, and said it’s a fun thing for him to do.”
The source said that any trips to the doctor or other outings are always done in disguise. Said the insider, “He loves surprising the doctor and staff with the different looks!”
"Richard just was getting so overwhelmed with being out in public and always having to be on all the time,” the source said. “How could you NOT recognize him, with that hair and that voice? He decided it was time to take a step back, and one way of doing that is altering the way he looks while out. Remember, this is someone who has been in the spotlight for forty years. He just wants to be anonymous.”
As RadarOnline.com reported, Simmons broke down in tears during an LAPD welfare check at his home after someone contacted law enforcement claiming elder abuse in January 2015.
The workout guru's pals became concerned when he started missing important events and obligations over the last couple of years.
Simmons called TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie on Sunday night for a recorded telephone interview. "Richard personally called Savannah. They obviously wanted to do an on camera interview, but he declined at this time," the source added.
During the meeting, Simmons, "was questioned away from his housekeeper and anyone else in the house," an insider previously told RadarOnline.com. "This is commonly done during welfare checks to make sure the person knows they can say anything, and are safe. Richard was happy to know that his fans were concerned. He had a range of emotions during the interview and did shed a few tears."
Among Richard's favorite places to go is the local farmers market. "Richard is happy just doing the little things most people have taken for granted," the source added.
Richard lost his beloved Dalmatian, Hattie in January 2014 and "got very emotional when talking to the cops about it,” said the source. “She was his entire world and the passing just gutted him."