Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Richard Simmons Says He Never Gave Permission For Upcoming Pauly Shore Biopic About His Life

Richard Simmons; Pauly Shore as Richard Simmons
David A. Walega/WireImage, The Lewis Brothers

After actor Pauly Shore announced that he'd be starring in a biopic about the fitness guru, Simmons noted on Facebook that he has 'never given my permission for this movie.'

Famed health fitness guru Richard Simmons is not pleased about an upcoming short film about his life called The Court Jester featuring comedian Pauly Shore as Simmons, nor is he enthusiastic about a feature-length biopic.

"You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore," wrote Simmons on his verified socials, adding:


"I have never given my permission for this movie."

The weight-loss motivator is known for his flamboyant and energetic personality seen on various TV shows and media, including his Sweatin' to the Oldies series of aerobics videos that were popular throughout the 1980s and '90s.

Lately, however, he's not enthusiastic about the idea of a biopic about him.

After the trailer for The Court Jester dropped on January 17, the 75-year-old encouraged fans not to "believe everything you read."

"I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful."
"Thank you for all your love and support."

The Court Jester was written and directed by Jake Lewis and premiered at The Cabin in Park City, Utah, on January 19, followed by a worldwide release later in the evening on The Lewis Brothers' YouTube page.

You can see the trailer here.

The Court Jester | Official Teaser | Pauly Shore is Richard Simmonsyoutu.be

The official teaser reveals a TV set where a production assistant is getting a pep talk from Simmons, portrayed by Shore.

"What's my first rule?" Simmons asks, and encourages them with:

"Like yourself. Your weight doesn't matter. If you like yourself, you're going to be fine."

"But I've been where you are right now," he continues across a montage of the crew working behind the scenes, the studio audience getting pumped for the show, and Simmons—in a sequined blue tank top and sparkly silver shorts—preparing for his entrance backstage.

He adds:

"And where I am right now, is I just love myself. Every part of myself."
"And I think I can show you how to get here."

The trailer fades to black as the voice of an announcer introduces Simmons, prompting the audience to cheer and applaud.

Even though Simmons voiced his displeasure about a biopic, fans were happy to hear from him after ten years of absence and they offered supportive words.







But several fans tried to convince him there was a demand for a film about him.

Shore, who is known for his work in '90s comedy films like Encino Man and Bio-Dome, told TODAY.com that he was excited about the project and being able to share "Simmons' life with the world."

He said:

"We all need this biopic now more than ever."

The 55-year-old continued:

"Simmons represented mental health, getting people in shape and being his authentic silly self!"
"Whenever he was on TV you could never take your eyes off of him and he brought such a joy to his appearances that represented nothing but a good time."

Shore also told Entertainment Weekly he pursued the project due to fans constantly commenting on his resemblance to Simmons.

"I am him," stressed Shore, adding:

"I like helping people. I like health. I like putting that energy out there."
"Through my mom and [The Comedy Store], she helped a lot of people and it kind of got passed down to me—I help comedians and people, and so I really relate to Richard."
"And I've been going to the gym since I was a kid. And I think I'm a little over the top as well, so I feel like I connect with him. And I've known him for years from back in the day."
"I started in the '90s... I used to always see him and I was always giving him hugs and high fives and stuff."

When asked if he was able to get in touch with Simmons recently, Shore said he heard from reps who relayed that Simmons loved Shore and his mother. But he was informed that the aerobics and weight-loss coach "just wants to lay low and not really be involved."

What followed next was a shopping deal from the Wolper Organization, which had a first-look deal at Warner Bros. and had been wanting to make a movie based on Richard Simmons' life story.

Wolper Organization issued a statement obtained by NBC News, which read:

“While we would love to have him involved, we respect his desire [for] privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him, and tells a dramatic story.”

The statement added:

“We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, [however] he is an amazing person, that changed millions of people's lives and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”

Shore shared his journey to playing Simmons on an Instagram video post, explaining that "people just need opportunities. That's what life's about, opportunities."

He mentioned that portraying Simmons in a project had its origins with his Las Vegas-based web series called Sweatin With the Wiez in which he danced around in aerobics gear with female friends for fun.

It sparked memes about how much Shore and Simmons look alike.

Shore continued:

"If I get the opportunity to star in a Richard Simmons biopic, I will deliver because I take things very seriously."
"I will immerse myself in the body, soul, and spirit of Richard Simmons."

You can watch his explanation here.

Warning: NSFW explicit language.


Over the weekend, Shore claimed Simmons had a change of heart regarding a feature-length film.

According to HuffPost:

"'I hope that once he sees the short and … what we’re wanting to do with it that he’ll change his tune,' Shore added. 'I love him. I love what he represents, which is why we want to do it. He’s such a great character and it’d be a good opportunity for me to get back out there.'"

"Whether Jake Lewis, who directed the short, will return to produce the feature-length film remains mysterious."

At the end of 2016, Simmons broke off contact with friends and disappeared from the public eye after shutting down his Beverly Hills studio, "Slimmons," where he taught motivational classes and aerobics to fans.

Since then, his reclusiveness in the past decade generated speculations about his well-being and safety, discussed in the Missing Richard Simmons podcast.

Simmons broke the silence after a rumor began circulating about him being held hostage by his longtime housekeeper, Teresa Reveles.

He called in live on the TODAY show and told host Savannah Guthrie:

“No one is holding me in my house as a hostage."
“You know, I do what I want to do as I’ve always done so people should sort of just believe what I have to say because, like, I’m Richard Simmons!”
“That's just very silly. Teresa Reveles has been with me for 30 years. It’s almost like we’re a married couple."

Simmons also explained:

"I just sort of wanted to be a little bit of a loner for a little while."
"You know, I had hurt my knee, and I had some problems with it, and then the other knee started giving me trouble because I've taught like thousands and thousands of classes, and you know right now I just want to sort of take care of me."

After many years of inspiring others to reach their health goals through his infectious charm and charisma, the man deserves some time to focus on himself.

And while the train has already left the station regarding the short film, there's no doubt Shore's performance shows promise.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel on each other's shows
@jimmykimmel/Threads

Jimmy Kimmel And Stephen Colbert Unload On Trump In Rare Crossover Event As Guests On Each Other's Shows

Late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert were each other's guests in a special crossover event on Tuesday and took the opportunity to call out "son of a b*tch" President Donald Trump, who has used his influence in attempts to silence them for criticizing him and his MAGA movement on the air.

Last week, ABC announced it would end its suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! just a week after Trump pushed to get host Jimmy Kimmel off the air following comments Kimmel made about the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. ABC had had internal discussions with Disney, which saw a wave of subscriber cancellations in the wake of Kimmel's suspension.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tina Turner
Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images

A Massive Sculpture Of Tina Turner Was Just Unveiled—And It's Going Viral For All The Wrong Reasons

When it comes to entertainment legends, the late singer Tina Turner is right at the top of the pantheon.

And fittingly, the songstress' hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, wanted to pay tribute to her legacy with giant statue of the icon.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Marjorie Taylor Greene
(L-R) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Ted Cruz Clashes With 'Crazy' MTG Over Her Cryptic Post Alluding That 'The Jews' Are Trying To Kill Her

Texas MAGA Republican Senator Rafael "Ted" Cruz raised eyebrows when he attacked Georgia QAnon/MAGA Republican Representative and conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) for being antisemitic.

MTG has promoted some antisemitic conspiracy theories in the past, like Jewish space lasers that control the weather or start wildfires, but this time people are calling Cruz out for reaching in an attempt to discredit the Georgia Republican and protect Trump from what's being concealed in FBI, Department of Justice, and court records relating to the indictment of Jeffrey Epstein on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Screenshot of Zohran Mamdani; Donald Trump
CNN; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani Claps Back After Trump Threatens To Withhold Federal Funding To NYC If He Becomes Mayor

Zohran Mamdani—the Democratic Socialist New York City mayoral candidate who stunned the establishment with a seismic win for progressives that has reverberated across the country—criticized President Donald Trump's threats to withhold federal funds if Mamdani wins November's election.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Mamdani a "New York City Communist" and said he "will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party."

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Kid Rock
JP Yim/Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Epically Shuts Down Suggestion That Kid Rock Should Be Doing Super Bowl Halftime Show

Earlier this week, the NFL announced that worldwide superstar Bad Bunny would be the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, causing right-wing heads to explode over the news.

After far-right provocateur Nick Adams suggested that the singer, a fierce critic of the Trump administration, should not have been chosen for the halftime gig, California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office took to X to mock him in the account's now familiar Trump-esque style.

Keep ReadingShow less