Talk:Richard Simmons/Archive 1

Satyricon (Fellini Satyricon)
While I'm not the person who added the Satyricon info, it IS correct. Simmons was an extra in Fellini's movie while living in Italy. Why is accurate info being removed? The person listed A & E Biography as a reference. The episode was called "Richard Simmons: Fit for Life." Also, Simmons bio "Still Hungry After All These Years" tells about the movie.

African-American
Is Richard Simmons really African-American?? A brief search of web sources turned up nothing. I'm curious if anyone knows anything for sure? A joke, or does someone know of Creole ancestry?
 * NO he is not African-American. I know Richard personally and he is not. I keep taking this out, and it keeps coming back...
 * What is WITH this guy that keeps putting that he's African American? It showed up again today.   I know him personally also.  His mother was of Russian descent, and his father was of Irish descent.  Quit putting in bad info!
 * Weird that people would think that he's black, 'cause he doesn't look it at all. Is it the curly hair?  Because that really looks more Irish to me.  I'm an Irish-American, and most people in my family have either straight blond hair (like myself), or curly dark red hair.  Roland Deschain 12:14, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Perhaps this frequent confusion has something to do with Eddie Murphy's hilariously spot-on portrayal of him in The Nutty Professor? -Grammaticus Repairo 23:11, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Gay or not
He is on college applications. JK. Is he homosexual? I am not trying to be obnoxious, I am curious to know, and understand sexual orientation wouldn't be appropriate for the article page. Taco325i 18:55, 18 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Years ago I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Richard. He is definitely NOT gay.  Though he is the purrfect gentleman.  Some people just hate that.  Je t'aime ma tigre. Chatte Tigre 15:47, 17 January 2007 (UTC) — Chatte Tigre (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic.


 * Okay, but then why is there no mention of a wife, girlfriend, etc.? Some more info on the family life would be great. Whether he's gay or not, he certainly fits a lot of the stereotypes of gay people, so a lot of people reading this article are going to be wondering about that. Hermitage 22:58, 1 July 2007 (UTC)


 * After seeing him on a TV show, that is exactly why I came to this article. Is there any way that question can be put to rest in the article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.157.26.39 (talk) 23:01, 31 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I came to this article for the same reason also. 204.113.52.125 (talk) 18:13, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Measurement abbreviation
What is the Wikipedia policy concerning measurement abbreviation. I added the paragraph about Mr. Simmons' weight. I can understand a policy of no plural for SI measurement (kg), which I would assume properly would be (Kg), but I don't understand one user's edit of "lbs" to "lb". Is this a stylistic difference between British and US American English, or some standard as measurements. A search for "lbs" at Wikipedia yields many results. I also am a believer that a lot of information is never too much, which is why I also added Mr. Simmons' weight in stone. As long as his weight is listed in either the SI or the Imperial/Customary system, I don't see why my addition of British colloquial usage should have been removed.

Another thing I don't understand is the encouragement not to list the country of birth or death with regard to the United States of America and Canada. Why should these not be listed in that place when other countries are. A user removed the country of birth due to formatting issues. This seems rather U.S.-Canada-centric to me, and I'm say this as an American. Comments?--Larry G 22:57, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Never heard of "lb". I doubt it's even used in the UK since I'm pretty sure they've switched over to kg. I don't know about the country thing, but I would prefer listing the country as well. --Macrowiz 23:27, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

'lb(s)' (pounds) is used here in the UK. But you have to sell your bananas in kilos.FlubClub 12:26, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

Confused with Gene Simmons
Why is this guy / article in the category "Heavy Metal"? I'm confused. Is he like one of those super-dense substances like lead or depleted uranium? Marblespire 20:13, 31 May 2005 (UTC)

I guess someone is confusing him with Gene Simmons from KISS.


 * Hahahahahah! I always get the two of them mixed up! -Grammaticus Repairo 23:12, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

He's not gay?
"Popular rumor suggests that Richard Simmons is gay; however, Simmons denied this in a press release issued in September 2003."

anyone got a link to this?


 * Could not find one, but he has denied it repeatedly. If he denies it, then we have no business hunting him down for the truth. Dominick (TALK) 19:35, 12 December 2005 (UTC)


 * Richard Simmons has said himself in an interview: "My biggest disappointment is that I've never had dinner with Barbra Streisand. Without a doubt. My second would certainly be: I don't have kids." That's how someone who doesn't want to get explicit comes out in public. I would immediately like the following changes made: Mary Cheney, although having worked as a gay and lesbian public relations liason for Coors Beer, does not prove she is a lesbian.  Although she attends public events with a female companion, Heather Poe, that does not mean they have sexual relations.  Please remove the word "lesbian" from her article.  Richard Nixon has denied being a crook, any inference that Mr. Nixon was not thoroughly honest should be deleted.  Also, Adolf Hitler vehemently denied being grumpy.  Please go to his article and expunge any reference to his cruelty.  You know what's funny-- I could understand a little debate over John Travolta, Richard Gere or even Jodie Foster... but Richard Simmons???  I find such nonsense laughable, but still, as a fair person, and as an American, I wouldn't remove anybody's discussion, even one I'd disagree with. User:Professor Von Pie


 * You are welcome to your opinion. Making a personal attack is not welcome. I applied WP:RPA because it was about me. If you have proof that Richard Simmons is gay, then present it, cute posts are not proof. In the case of others, each case of an individual has evidence, in some cases it was from a third party and was denied by the subject. Mr. Simmons may or may not be gay. He may like big tall domeneering women and prefers to be submissive, thats his business. Your judgement of him is not relevant to wikipedia's article unless you have something concrete. Dominick (TALK) 00:12, 14 December 2005 (UTC)


 * For one thing, let us clarify what is "judgment." I think Janet Reno is evil for having illegally kidnapped and deported a child to Cuba.  That is a judgment.  When I say she is a lesbian, that is not a judgment, but a conclusion that anyone over the age of 12 with eyes and ears would reach in a matter of seconds.  Similarly, "Dick Cheney is wicked" is a judgment; "Dick Cheney is bald" is not.  For another thing, it's astounding that anyone would think Simmons' sexuality is "his own business" when clearly the centerpiece of his act is prancing around, speaking in a mincing voice, and frequently making goo-goo eyes at David Letterman.  "His business" therefore is "OUR business" because he chooses to make it so.  And in so doing, he is a wealthy entertainer and entrepreneur.  He's doing no harm, so more power to him.  But to deny Simmons' identity as a gay man not only has sort of an absurd "Flat Earth" ring to it, but likely stems from the mindset that gay people are inferior or nefarious or some sort of threat, and the fewer of them the better... or perhaps it is a transitive condition that can be cured by a big, tall domineering woman.  That state of mind is known as homophobia. User:Professor Von Pie


 * Your judgement does not carry proof of such behavior. His business is his business, if he wan'ts to act foolish that is his choice. His choice is also to keep details of his private life private. He doesn't abrogate that right, and nobody has the right to "out" him with judgement for some political purpose I have yet to discern. If you have proof please post it. Since you have not, you obviously do not have proof. Without proof, then you should perhaps talk about your opinions someplace else. Dominick (TALK) 12:53, 14 December 2005 (UTC)


 * Your use of the word judgment shows you did not read or understand what I wrote. And to patrol the boards to make sure the world conforms to your religious POV is, in itself, a form of political activism.  To suggest that the gayest person in the world, Richard Simmons, may not be gay, is activism. It indicates a wish that approximately 10 percent of the world is really, perhaps, less than 1%, or maybe non-existent.  There is absolutely no proof that would be acceptable to you except Simmons' admission, and to look to him to throw away his multi-million dollar career is too high an expectation.  User:Professor Von Pie


 * Thanks. Let me know when you have something more concrete than your opinion. Dominick (TALK) 19:04, 14 December 2005 (UTC)


 * Oh, definitely. When Richard Simmons publicly acknowledges his homosexuality, which will likely be the same day hell freezes over, I'll attach a link.  Meanwhile, here's a great idea: Go to the Walter Mercado article and defend his honor!  Check out his photograph, and you'll see that clearly his sexuality is his own business, and we should respect his privacy.  User:Professor Von Pie


 * As much as anyone, including Dominick, wants to believe he isn't gay, go ahead. You have your right to believe whatever you want. But that doesn't change the fact that he's queer as a three dollar bill. The old adage, "A horse, by any other name, is still a horse," fits in here... While some people might call his apparent homosexuality something else, it does not change what it really is. Also, there is a difference between someone acting gay and someone actually having sex with another of the same gender. Both are called gay. While Simmons may not have sex with other men, he certainly acts "gay." I remember distinctly, in sixth grade, having to endure one of his excercise videos, and the thought "HE'S GAY AS HELL" was the only thing running through my mind. Was this thought based on knowledge of his sex life? No, it was based on watching his video. It wasn't too hard to figure out. -Chewbacca 01:06, 5 March 2006 (UTC)


 * Please see verifiability and no original research. It isn't our job to "figure out" things. We're just here to verifibaly summarize reliable sources using the neutral point of view. If you have a source that says he "acts gay", or whatever, then we can summarize that point of view. But we can't add something just because we think it's true, or even obvious. -Will Beback 21:52, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

In response to all the above comments suggesting that Richard is (or should be labelled as)gay, because of the evdance of his campness; "Camp/effeminate = gay" is a myth and massive oversimplification. To allow such assumptions into an encyclopedic text as fact, would just work toward discrediting the article and wikpedia as a whole. Straight people can be camp too! just as many gay men are macho/butch.

If you insist, then the only factual approach I can see, is, assuming suitable reliable sources present, to mention that he is sometimes 'seen to be gay', or suspect, or accused of being gay, "due to his effeminate personality traits." Further I would urge the writer of any such addition to recognise the non-binary nature of sexuality, and mention his campness is just as likely to be 'evidence' of being bisexual or asexual. --Myfanwy 00:05, 21 June 2006 (UTC)


 * I think this clip might be relevant to the discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJkuXSTymk . Granted, he still doesn't come right out and say, "I'm gay."  But he does simulate oral sex on another man, eagerly climb on Wayne Brady, and so on...  That seems like more than "effeminate personality traits," if you ask me.


 * Obviously we can never know his (or anyone else's) real inner nature. Even if he did say "I'm gay," we'd still have to wonder if he was just playing the part.  But it's pretty freaking clear he's playing the part, which, unless anyone has devised a method for seeing into people's inner essences, is as good as we're ever going to be able to get. —Preceding unsigned comment added by BrownApple (talk • contribs)
 * That's not his inner nature, it's schtick. I think his act has evolved over the years to be more self-aware of how he comes off, but it's still schtick.


 * I remember an interview on TV around 1998 where he mentions his wife. He's definitely flamboyant, no doubt about that.  But it could be that he's merely playing into it.  But whatever his sexual orientation is, it's just like the Tootise Pop commercial; "The world may never know."  CardinalFangZERO 03:25, 9 July 2006 (UTC)
 * If you can find that (including the details to name of show, when it aired, where, etc.), then go ahead and add it; my understanding is that "published source" is not synonymous with "printed, hard-copy source" in Wikipedia terminology. I do agree with those who have said that however obvious it may seem to all, it cannot go into the article unless confirmed, and agree with you about the Tootsie Pop line. That said, it should be noted that having a (female) wife and being a gay male are not always mutually exclusive. Many famous and non-famous gay men have married women, for a variety of reasons. Lawikitejana 10:00, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

What a ridiculous debate. Richard Simmons ... gay? What an outrageous thing to think! Copy Editor 13:04, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
 * He's not gay (too bad), or at least he hasn't admitted it. I will admit though, his body is tight you know what I'm sayin'?  burgdorf  (Talk)  14:30, 17 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Look, I think we all *know* that Richard Simmons is gay. The problem is that he has never said so in public, and probably never will "come out." Because of the lack of documentation stating he is gay, we cannot include it in Wikipedia. But between you, me, and everyone on Wikipedia, I think we would all probably stake our life on him being gay, if we had to. 65.35.182.213 22:08, 29 June 2007 (UTC)

Graffiti
OK... there seems to be a fair bit of it from anon IP's over the past few days. Any solutions? Lochok 11:04, 12 February 2006 (UTC)
 * This is getting stupid. This is the 3rd day in a row graffiti has had to be removed from this page! I am not a fan of simmons, but this is getting crazy? Is it worth blocking external edits or something? This is happening constantly from anon-ip's Lochok 07:42, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Caricature
We should add something about Richard Simmons acting as a caricature of himself on various shows and public appearances. He always wears those ridiculous short shorts & glittery tank tops. And whether or not he is gay, he sure seems to play it on TV.--Thalia42 07:18, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Sorry, he denies it, he may be flamboyant, but unless there are factual evidence to the contrary, his denial trumps all. Dominick (TALK) 11:03, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Has he denied caricaturing himself? Hmm, no matter, we'd need a source for that too. -Will Beback 21:20, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I'm not arguing about whether he is gay. I'm simply stating that his flamboyance should be part of the write-up, regardless of his sexual orientation.--Thalia42 00:37, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I imagine we can find a source describing Simmons' personna. His own bio talks about his "trademark humor" and his "unique wit, passion and enthusiasm", but those terms don't seem to capture it. -Will Beback 02:02, 26 May 2006 (UTC)
 * there is also the VAST ammounts of internet pictures devoted to this guy. I can't believe they go without mention. I know this isn't encyclopedia dramatica or anything, but yeah... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.151.233.225 (talk) 20:29, 25 February 2007 (UTC).

Clean up
This article seems very disorganised - it needs a clean up, with subsections etc.

Subsections will also make it easier for people to edit the page.--82.35.34.157 13:58, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

I agree - What is this ? Simmons was overweight in his younger days. Simmons lost 123 lb (56 kg). Lets clean it up people.

Reference question
I added a reference heading. Looks like the bio info is listed on his official website, but I'm not sure how to cite it.

It seems the article needs references and reorganization. I'm not too good at that handling such matters yet, or I would do it. KarateLadyKarateLady 20:33, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

Is Richard ill?
I heard that Richard was ill and in poor physical health. I hope this is not true. I am a big (not that kind of Big) fan of his and would like to know. Thank you Skipper

No, he's not ill! Perhaps you should stop listening to whatever "source" you heard that from.

David Letterman
There should be some mention of Richard's frequent appearances on Letterman. Exploding Boy 08:15, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

Trivia
It seems the scene referred to in a "The Simpsons" episode wasnt deleted, it has at least been aired here in Australia.

A bit nitpicky, but still.... where did the deleted thing come from? 125.168.8.148anon

I recognize this Simpsons scene (a very funny moment) and so it's played here uncut in the States. Sometimes in syndication, Simpsons episodes are shortened (to get more time to run ads), but they are shortened by cutting the opening and closing credits. Only rarely are scenes cut from episodes, and there have to be very good reasons to do so, i.e., so the show's produders don't get sued. This scene, which I have seen in this Simpsons episode run in syndication in the States definitely does contain this scene, so I am modifying the article accordingly.

It actually airs as a deleted scene in the 138th Episode Spectacular, not in the episode itself. Editing back to "deleted" scene, with context. Dirtysocks 05:39, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Removal of Trivia
Except for the first two, the remainders are correct. He appeared on all the shows listed (the cartoons are easy to verify on any episode guide) and he is good friends with Howard Stern and David Letterman. It was big news on both shows about him returning after a prolonged absence. -- Death666 14:44, 29 January 2007 (UTC)


 * If the trivia is correct, then it needs to be sourced. There is no source for him having a falling out with Stern. There is no source for him having a falling out with Letterman. There is no source for him studying to become a priest. All of these are potentially controversial and shouldn't be in the article unless they have proper sources. Frise 23:18, 29 January 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree that it needs to be sourced, but since none of it is libelous, the appropriate thing to do is to place a tag on the section, and then do some research to see if you can find sources for some of the statements.  If you find that some of the statements are false, or if you ever see ones that are libelous, then you should remove the statements, but not the whole section.  I hope this helps.  --NMChico24 00:18, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Removal of pointless attributes.
The sort of cheery filling in this article might be more admissible in a promotional advertisement, the World Wide Web Shrine of Richard Simmons, or any similar realm, but it isn't here. "He is known for his endlessly happy and flamboyant personality" -- is an example example of such pointless elements that pepper this article. It would more appropriate to to remove "endlessly happy" and leave "flamboyant personality" (an attribute which is still contestable.)

I'm removing any other such silly terms and irrelevant references.Navvie 20:06, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Image
Why is the stupidly edited picture in this article not being replaced with the original? Perhaps it takes time to update, but I'm perplexed why no instant update exists for the image, but such faster provisions exist for the article itself.Navvie 20:08, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

I would like to see some references...
"The positive reaction to this spot led to a three-year recurring stint, playing with himself, on the American soap opera General Hospital."

I don't know anything about this but it's a joke right....? chochem 18:48, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

No, it's not a joke. Ask anybody who watched General Hospital back then. Check any Richard Simmons bio. This info is all over the place. He was on during the original "Luke and Laura" days. Taught exercise classes at Luke's disco.


 * Absolutely true! I remember it very well! That was back when GH was in its hey day. He taught classes in the disco in the day time. He wasn't on very often - and I doubt it was anything like 3 years (the disco wasn't around that long), but he definitely "made an impression" - particularly since he wasn't very well known at the time. I seem to recall him having a significant reaction scene after Laura was raped in the disco. What a hoot! Thanks for introducing this into the article. It should bring back a lot of memories for readers like myself. Cleo123 07:47, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

He is not chubby
268 lbs for a child is not chubby, its fat. I don't know if its PC to call him chubby, but the guy was morbidly obese.

Smaru 12:07, 8 June 2007 (UTC)Smaru