Richard Simmons Recalled Hurtful Howard Stern Interview
Late fitness icon Richard Simmons is being remembered in a new Diane Sawyer television special that revisits a painful moment from his final appearance on The Howard Stern Show, when a line of questioning about love and relationships appeared to leave him visibly hurt.
In People’s recap of The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special, Sawyer notes that Simmons appeared on Stern’s programme more than 60 times, but that the host’s questions during the last visit “seemed to cut deeply,” including asking whether Simmons had ever experienced love and then challenging whether anyone cared about him beyond employees.
A clip included in the special shows Stern telling Simmons he meant the subject sincerely before pressing him to define love; Simmons responded defensively, saying, “I don’t know why you’re picking on me today,” and later grew emotional after Stern dismissed his mention of his longtime housekeeper, Teresa, as “someone you pay.” Simmons can be heard fighting tears while insisting she cared about him.
The special also includes reflections from Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, who said Richard seemed “perhaps somewhat depressed” in later years, and from longtime manager Mr. Michael Catalano, who suggested Simmons felt supported “until he didn’t,” before things “got real quiet.” The Duke stepped away from public life for much of his final decade and died at his Los Angeles home in July 2024, the day after turning 76.
The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
