Richard Simmons Claims Former Associate Has Been Blackmailing Him for Years, Bombshell Lawsuit Reveals

Richard Simmons Claims Former Associate Has Been Blackmailing Him for Years, Bombshell Lawsuit Reveals

Richard Simmons is alleging that a former associate, Mauro Oliveira, had “blackmailed, extorted and stalked” him in a bombshell lawsuit filed Monday against the National Enquirer and their publishers.

The fitness guru, 68, who has not been seen publicly since February 2014, says Oliveira’s extortion led to his further retreat from the spotlight.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Oliveira — who was not named as a defendant in the suit — was selling false and libelous information about Simmons to the National Enquirer and Radar Online, both owned by American Media, Inc.