Police Called to Richard Simmons' Home for Wellness Check as Friends Fear He Is Being Abused

For more than three decades Richard Simmons was one of those celebs that seemed to pop up everywhere. He went to his fitness studio in Beverly Hills daily, did guest stints on popular shows and was always on board to support just about any charity event. Then in November of 2013 all of that publicity just came to a screeching halt with Simmons deciding to duck out of the public eye for a while. After about a year even those who had been close to him started telling the press that they were worried because he was shunning them as well. Things came to a head last night when the LAPD paid a visit to the exercise guru's home for a wellness check.

According to a report by TMZ:

2 LAPD officers showed up to Simmons' Hollywood Hills home at 7 p.m. Richard answered the door and showed them in. The cops' feedback — he couldn't have been nicer and more gracious. They say he was articulate, lucid, relaxed and appreciative of their concern.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the visit was triggered by a long-time friend of Simmons who sent an email to the L.A. County D.A.'s Elder Abuse Unit last month and said he believed the 66-year-old fitness guru was being abused.

Sources close to the situation say that Simmons claimed that he was tired of being in the public eye after so many years and decided it was time to lay low. In the past we had heard that he was suffering from knee problems and was afraid to go through with a full knee replacement in order to remain mobile. That injury had supposedly lead to a deep depression that has worried some of his pals. The law enforcement that checked on the fitness star last did note that he was walking with a limp.

Do you think that Simmons is really OK and has good reasons to distance himself from some of the people who had played a prominent role in his life at one point in time? Or are you leaning towards the deep depression that some have alleged that he is suffering from? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Tags

Police, Depression, MIA