Richard Simmons has broken his long and confusing silence.
The former fitness guru – who has been at the center of endless rumors about his physical location and mental state – issued a statement on Wednesday meant to assuage all concerns about his well-being.
Simmons claims he’s doing just fine.
"Well by now you know that I’m not ‘missing,’ just a little under the weather," Simmons wrote on Facebook, adding:
"I’m sure I will be feeling good and back home in a couple of days."
The famous recluse was hospitalized on Monday for severe indigestion, although many fans wondered if something else was actually going on with him.
Simmons has been the subject of ongoing speculation, dating all the way back to the spring of 2014 and rumors that he was battling depression in the wake of a severe injury.
About two years later, The New York Daily News ran a lengthy article in which it alleged Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper.
But Simmons aimed to quell this chatter by telling Entertainment Tonight that he was simply at home resting due to knee replacement surgery.
“No one should be worried about me,” he said about a year ago. “The people that surround me are wonderful people who take great care of me.”
In his latest statement of assurance, Simmons went on to say the following:
"This has reminded me that when you need help you can’t be afraid to reach out and ask for it.
"We all think we should always be able to solve our problems all by ourselves and sometimes it’s just bigger than we are.
"I reached out and I hope you will too. I’m sure there are people in your life who love and care for you and would do anything to help you with the challenges you face."
Over the past few months, Simmons has been making headlines without making any appearances or saying any words.
That’s because the podcast Missing Richard Simmons has blown up into a huge hit.
It has explored the whereabouts of the formerly enthusiastic workout guru, while also coming under fire for possibly exploiting the sad situation of a man undergoing legitimate mental issues.
Remember, Simmons was hospitalized last summer due to some bizarre behavior.
Someone in his house at the time called 911 as a result of the way Simmons was acting, although details were never made well known.
When paramedics arrived on the scene, however, they determined Simmons was is need of medical assistance.
He has not been spotted in public since January of 2014.
He insists he’s fine at the moment, but it’s hard to base too much on a mere Facebook message.
Heck, it’s impossible to know if Simmons even wrote it.
"Just knowing you care has already made me feel better. Hope to see you again soon!" he concluded his post on Wednesday.
For now, all we can do is hope that this note is legitimate and that Simmons really is in an okay place.
We really do miss you, Richard Simmons. Please take comfort in knowing that your fans are thinking of you.