Is Richard Simmons Really ‘Transitioning’?

Rumors have been flying about exercise guru Richard Simmons since news of his hospitalization broke last weekend. The most recent rumor? That he's taking steps toward transitioning into a woman.

However, Tom Estey, a spokesman for Simmons has shot down that rumor. "It's not true," Estey told People magazine. "He is not transitioning into a woman. He has decided to live quietly the last few years. He had knee surgery a few years ago and has a bum knee. He is still on Twitter and Facebook and works behind the scenes continuing to inspire and motivate people to lose weight. When he decides to come back, he will come back."

Estey also told People that Simmons "was in the hospital over the weekend for dehydration and was out the next day. He's a human being. He was in the public eye for over three decades, but he deserves his privacy. He should be able to have a private life. He just needed a break. He is still taking care of the people who need his help."

Other rumors state that Simmons was being held hostage at his home in Hollywood Hills, CA. He called in to the Today show in March to deny the reports. "For the last 40 years I have been traveling, teaching classes and I had a knee injury, so I had a knee replacement, which was very difficult for me," he said. "I have really just been taking it easy, staying at home, working out in my gym and doing the things I haven't done in a very long time."

Source: People.com