Fitness guru Richard Simmons has sued the National Enquirer over false reports that he had transitioned from male to female.
The lawsuit, which does not specify damages, marks one of the few times Simmons has returned to the spotlight after retreating from the public eye three years ago. His absence prompted the hit podcast Missing Richard Simmons, which fed off rumors following his so-called "disappearance," including those about him transitioning.
The '80s fitness video star is suing the National Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc. for libel and invasion of privacy because of several stories, including one titled "Richard Simmons: "He's now a woman!" The reports and misconstrued images about breast implants, hormone treatments, and other physical changes are offensive not only because they are completely made up, but also because Simmons "has been an avid supporter of the LGBTQ community for his entire life," according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Read more...
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