Richard Simmons hospitalised

Richard Simmons has spoken out for the first time in three years to assure fans he is not 'missing' after he was hospitalised for severe indigestion on Monday. 

It was the first time the workout guru-turned recluse had left the confines of his California estate in three years. His disappearance from public life even sparked the podcast Missing Richard Simmons in February.

Today, Simmons reached out to fans to assure them he was still around - and thank them for their support.

'Aren’t you sick of hearing and reading about me?!' he wrote in a Facebook post, alongside a picture of himself from 2014.

'Well by now you know that I’m not “missing”, just a little under the weather. I’m sure I will be feeling good and back home in a couple of days.'

Simmons, who remains hospitalised, also added his thanks to the many fans who had reached out to express their concern and good wishes.

'You will never know how much it means to me,' he wrote. 'This has reminded me that when you need help you can’t be afraid to reach out and ask for it. We all think we should always be able to solve our problems all by ourselves and sometimes it’s just bigger than we are.

'I reached out and I hope you will too. I’m sure there are people in your life who love and care for you and would do anything to help you with the challenges you face.

'Just knowing you care has already made me feel better. Hope to see you again soon!'

Simmons' manager Michael Catalano told ABC News yesterday that the fitness guru had been hospitalised 'at an undisclosed location in California.' 

'After a few days of battling severe indigestion and discomfort while eating, we agreed it was best for him to seek treatment,' he said.

Catalono added: 'He’s already feeling better and is expected to make a full recovery.' 

This news comes just a few weeks after a report that Simmons may finally be ready to come out of hiding.  

That report also came from Catalano, hot on the heels of a report stating that the fitness guru had just signed a lucrative deal with Prominent Brand + Talent.

This new deal gives Prominent the rights to represent Richard Simmons for licensing, merchandising and endorsement opportunities around the globe.

And it was set in motion by a 2016 DailyMail.com story about Simmons reclusive behavior that one year later was explored in the popular six-episode podcast 'Missing, Richard Simmons.' 

'All I can say, at least for now, is it is possible,' Catalano said in an interview with The New York Times about Simmons leaving his home after holing up inside the residence for the past 38 months.

'But it is yet to be determined, I would say.'