Exercise guru Richard Simmons cited for assault

[Pete's Mom]

I just picked myself up off the floor I was laughing so hard. I thought what the guy said was pretty funny.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/03/25/simmons.cite.ap/index.html

Exercise guru Richard Simmons cited for assault

PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- Exercise guru Richard Simmons allegedly slapped a man who made a sarcastic remark about one of his videos, police said.

Simmons, known for his "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series of exercise videos set to songs from the 1950s and '60s, was cited for misdemeanor assault.

A fellow passenger recognized Simmons on Wednesday night at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport as he was waiting for a flight to Los Angeles, police said.

The man "made the off-hand comment, 'Hey, everybody. It's Richard Simmons. Let's drop our bags and rock to the '50s,"' said Phoenix police Sgt. Tom Osborne. "Mr. Simmons took exception to it and walked over to the other passenger and apparently slapped him in the face."

The passenger, whose identity wasn't immediately available, wasn't injured but told police that he intended to file charges against Simmons, 55.

Osborne said Simmons was cited for misdemeanor assault and permitted to board his flight.

 

[airhead]

He slapped a guy for that??!?!?

 

[monkeyboy]

More like a B*tch slap

 

[JoNo]

well, seeing as how now-a-days he's almost always being made fun of, I don't see why he wouldn't do what he did. Probably thought he was making a crack at him...

 

[Mishetta]

I met him on several occassions when I lived in LA & he was the nicest person I'd ever met. Really funny too & tons of energy! I wonder if that's all that was said......

 

[Bob Slydell]

The guy wasn't injured, but is filing charges?

Can you imagine the cop taking the info down?

Ok, sir, let me get this straight. You said you were ***** slapped by Richard Simmons? {snicker, snicker} Are you alright, sir -- I mean, he's a big, mean guy {snicker, snicker}, I'm sure that slap hurt! {snicker, snicker}

 

[poohandwendy]

The guy wasn't injured, but is filing charges?

Well, if he doesn't file charges, how would that look in civil court when he goes after him for $$$$$?

 

[holycow]

Go Richard!
I'm so tired of rude people! ....Think of all the people he has helped and yet everyone makes fun of him...and then the guy has the nerve to file charges!...


HC

 

[RitaZ.]

Well, if he doesn't file charges, how would that look in civil court when he goes after him for $$$$$?

ITA

I like Richard Simmons!

 

[UncleKyle]

While I don't think he should have been slapped, he must have been embarassed so bad he felt he had to file charges. If Richard Simmmons had slapped me I would have cracked up laughing.

 

[Lanshark]

I have a feeling there's more to this story than what is being reported.

 

[browneyes]

I guess he's heard that comment one too many times.

 

[faithinkarma]

I have a feeling there's more to this story than what is being reported.

There almost always is.

 

[ilovepcot]

Absolutely! I believe Richard to be one of the few truly selfless persons left. He goes to great extremes to help people who are in such pain (emotionally) and I can't help but believe there's much more to this story.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

How do you go to work and face friends if you slapped down by Richard Simmons?

 

[JoNo]

If I was to be slapped by Mr. Simmons, I woulda laughed and then patted him on the head, told him he was sooooooooooo cute in a grownup-speaking-to-a-little-child voice and then just sat back down... THen again I don't think I would have said anything to upset him...

 

[WDWHound]

I think its all a promotional stunt for Richard's new exercise video "Slappin with the Oldies"!

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by WDWHound
I think its all a promotion stunt for Richard's new exercise video "Slappin with the Oldies"!

LOL...i'm in tears laughing so hard right now.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Originally posted by WDWHound
I think its all a promotion stunt for Richard's new exercise video "Slappin with the Oldies"!

ROFLMAO.....OK everyone now one and two thats it dont be afriad to really smack that fat right off

Now come on work it!

 

[4greatboys]

It really shouldnt matter if the guy was hurt or not, you cannot just walk up to someone and slap them if the urge hits. Im sure it wasnt that hard of a slap, Richard doesnt look like much of a fighter but you can bet if he slapped me I'd press charges.
Slappin with the oldies
How old was the guy?? Maybe it was "Slappin the Oldies" instead of "Slappin with the Oldies"