Actor and comedian Pauly Shore has raised doubts about the authenticity of remarks attributed to fitness guru Richard Simmons regarding a biopic. Shore, who had plans to star in and executive produce a film about Simmons, expressed his skepticism in an interview with “Entertainment Tonight.” He suggested that the pre-death social media posts critical of him taking on the role may not have been written by Simmons himself. Shore went on to say, “I know he wanted me to do it. I don’t even know if that was him tweeting the whole time. I don’t know who that was.”
Response from Simmons’ Staff
In response to Shore’s comments, Simmons’ staff took to social media to set the record straight. They pointed out that Simmons had indeed written his own posts, carefully crafting them in advance to convey the right message. Simmons’ brother, Lenny, confirmed this by stating, “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 also mentioned that Simmons would often share his posts with family members before publishing them. Additionally, the staff clarified that Simmons had never reached out to Shore in any form, contrary to what Shore had claimed.
Unapproved Biopic
The controversy arose when Shore announced his intentions to play Simmons in a movie titled “The Court Jester.” However, Simmons was quick to denounce the portrayal, stating, “You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read.” Simmons went on to explain that he no longer had a manager or a publicist, further indicating his disapproval of the project.
The dispute between Pauly Shore and Richard Simmons regarding the biopic serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in adapting real-life stories for the screen. It underscores the importance of obtaining consent and approval from the individuals being portrayed in biographical works. As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with questions of authenticity and representation, this incident sheds light on the challenges of navigating the fine line between creative expression and respecting the wishes of the people whose lives are being depicted.