Richard Simmons’ Spokesperson Clarifies He’s Not Dying After Facebook Post

Richard Simmons is healthy and happy.

On Monday, a statement was shared on Simmons’ verified Facebook page in which he wrote, “I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death.”

Amid speculation on his health spurred by that post, Simmons’ spokesperson Tom Estey tells The Hollywood Reporter, “I can confirm with 100 percent certainty that Richard is not dying. He’s, in fact, very healthy and happy. The sole purpose of the post was meant to be inspirational.”

Simmons later apologized for the confusion surrounding his message writing on social media, “Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today.   Even the press has gotten in touch with me.  I am not dying. It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have.  Sorry for this confusion. Love, Richard.”

In the post shared earlier in the day, Simmons encourages everyone to “enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”

He continued to offer some advice on ways to be healthy and nutritious: “Start with a healthy breakfast. Do you like oatmeal…. Whole wheat toast ..eggs once or twice a week Fresh fruit or half of an English muffin? Then there is lunch. How about a nice salad? Don’t eat your dinner too late. Combine your protein with a starch and a few vegetables. And sure, once in a while, have dessert. One healthy day of eating will lead to the next… and the next.”

Ever committed to fitness, he also emphasized the importance of being active and stretching: “Every day that you are alive you have got to move. Whether it is standing or sitting you have got move your body every day.” Simmons even reminded that he has “a lot of workout videos on YouTube” that can be used.

Simmons finished his post with a heartfelt message to remember relationships with loved ones and be transparent about feelings. “There is something else very important that you must do. Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug those people and children who you really care for. A big hug really goes a long way,” he wrote.

Simmons also recommended Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” as a “terrific song” to listen to. “Live today and don’t forget to pray. Love, Richard.”

Despite being private and exiting public life in 2014, Simmons spoke out earlier this year on the annoucement that Pauly Shore would be starring in a biopic about him.

“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read,” read a post on Simmons’ Facebook page. Simmons explained that he’s distancing himself from the project.

The filmmakers responded to Simmons’ concerns in a statement at the time: “While we would love to have him involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story,” said The Wolper Organization in a statement. “We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, how ever he is an amazing person, that changed millions of peoples lives and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”

March 18, 4:08 p.m. Updated with Richard Simmons’ new statement.