Suzanne Somers was surprised when she learned why fitness icon Richard Simmons didn’t want to appear on TV with her years ago.
In an interview for the just premiered FOX show “TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” Sommers discussed how Simmons showed some insecurities before he was last seen publicly almost a decade ago.
“One night I was on the Larry King Show and he was either going to be a guest or was supposed to be a guest, and I heard through the Larry King people that he didn’t want to be on the show with me,” Somers said on the program (first reported in a People exclusive).
When Sommers inquired why Simmons wouldn’t appear with her she got an interesting answer. Supposedly Simmons said “She’ll make fun of me.” Which took Sommers by surprise.
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“I never make fun of anybody. But that’s when I realized a little insecurity had gotten in there,” she said. “I like him. I was always so surprised when he thought I’d make fun of him. But doesn’t that show you he’s got a heartache? Something’s broken inside because he did it. He had it and then let it go.”
According to People, Simmons has not been seen in public since he stopped teaching at his workout studio in February of 2014. The disappearance has spurred many thoughts and claims as to why, leading to the podcast “Missing Richard Simmons” and the TMZ/FOX documentary.
Sommers also posted to her Instagram this week to plug the show and praise the “iconic and inspirational” Richard Simmons.
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“TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” premiered on FOX on August 22.
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