Heated public dispute, the late fitness icon Richard Simmons’ family and staff have strongly criticized comedian Pauly Shore’s ongoing attempts to produce a biopic about Simmons. Despite Simmons’ explicit disapproval of the project, Shore remains determined to bring his vision to life.
Richard Simmons, who passed away last month at the age of 76, had vocally opposed Shore’s unauthorized biopic through social media before his death. Simmons’ staff recently reiterated his stance, responding to Shore’s latest comments made to TMZ.
Shore, who has been vocal about his desire to portray Simmons, mentioned that he believed Simmons would have approved of the film. “I know he wanted me to do it,” Shore stated. “I don’t even know if that was him tweeting the whole time. I don’t know who that was.”
This statement has sparked a strong rebuttal from Simmons’ staff. In a statement posted on social media, they emphasized that Simmons had actively managed his social media presence and had unequivocally disapproved of Shore’s biopic. “Pauly Shore has recently made comments to TMZ Paparazzi concerning his attempts to proceed with an unauthorized movie about Richard,” the staff said. “You’ve seen here on Richard’s account what he had to say about the biopic.”
The statement also included a response from Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, who clarified that Richard Simmons had personally crafted his social media posts. “Dicky absolutely wrote his own posts. He worked on them a week in advance, going over and over them to get the right message,” Lenny Simmons stated. He added that Simmons had not communicated with Shore directly, contrary to Shore’s claims.
Shore’s biopic plans, first announced in January, have faced persistent backlash. Earlier this year, Shore appeared as Simmons in “The Court Jester,” a short film screened at the Sundance Film Festival, as part of his preparation for the biopic.
In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Shore expressed his view of the biopic as a chance for a career comeback, similar to the recent resurgence of his “Encino Man” co-stars Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan. “Simmons is very handsome. Also, his style and my style is very over the top and spontaneous, so that’s inherent in me already,” Shore explained.
Simmons had previously addressed the biopic on social media, stating he had not approved of the project and urging fans to disregard any misleading information. “I have never given my permission for this movie,” he wrote on Facebook. “So don’t believe everything you read.”
The late fitness guru also announced plans for a separate movie about his life, signaling his intent to work with major studios and excluding Shore from the project. Shore responded emotionally, posting a heartfelt message on Instagram where he questioned Simmons’ disapproval and expressed his own deep connection to the role. “Richard, how do you not approve of this movie? I mean, really, who’s better to play you in a movie than ME?” Shore wrote. “Leonardo DiCaprio’s not gonna play you. Brad Pitt’s not gonna play you. I’m perfect. Everyone already thinks I’m you. We’re the same. Beautiful, inside and out.”
As the controversy continues, it remains clear that Simmons’ family and staff are resolute in their opposition to Shore’s unauthorized biopic, emphasizing that the late icon’s wishes should be respected.
