Richard Simmons clarifies his previous comments about dying.
On Monday, the fitness guru, 75, assured his fans he was not dying after sharing a lengthy Facebook post earlier in the day about death and living life to the fullest.
“I’m sorry that many of you were upset by my message today. Even the media contacted me. I’m not dying,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter)
“It was a message about how we should embrace each day we have. Sorry for the confusion,” he added before signing the post with “Love, Richard.”
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“We’re happy to hear from you,” one fan commented, while another added, “I got your message. Thank you.”
A longtime friend of Simmons also told PEOPLE on Monday that the star is “healthy and happy,” explaining that the post was “purely an inspirational message.”
Simmons’ previous Facebook post read: “I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I’m dying. Oh, I can see your faces now. The truth is that we all die. “Every day of our lives, we are getting closer to death,” he wrote. “Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”
Richard Simmons.
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He also emphasized the need for three healthy meals each day, as well as dessert “every now and then.”
“One day of healthy eating will lead to the next… and the next,” he continued.
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He then encouraged people to stay active as much as possible and suggested trying out his workout videos on his YouTube channel. “Every day while you’re alive you have to move. Whether you’re standing or sitting, you need to move your body every day. Start with stretching, then cardio and strength,” Simmons added.
“There is something else very important that you must do,” he continued. “Tell the ones you love that you love them. Hug those people and children you really care about. A big hug really goes a long way. If you have time, I want you to listen to a great song. It’s by Tim McGraw and it’s called ‘Live Like You Were Dying.’ Live today and don’t forget to pray.”
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Source: HIS Education