"New Orleans, Louisiana, 62 years ago, it was so hot, and I was a compulsive eater. I weighed 200 pounds in the eighth grade and nearly 300 pounds when I graduated high school. I struggled with various eating disorders because I felt unaccepted due to my weight. I was ridiculed, looked down upon, and suffered from low self-esteem. I tried numerous weight-loss methods, starting with diet pills, then 30 laxatives a day, vomiting three to four times daily, and eventually starving myself, dropping to 119 pounds in two and a half months. This led to hospitalization, where a nurse asked me a life-changing question: "Do you want to live or die?" I chose to live, learning to eat healthily and exercise, something I had never done before. Moving to Los Angeles, I became a waiter, saved $25,000 in two years, and opened my exercise studio in Beverly Hills, 36 years ago, called Simmons. I wanted a place for people who were overweight, out of shape, and had low self-worth. This changed my life. I eventually appeared on General Hospital for three and a half years, playing myself and teaching people to exercise. I then got my own show, and God's blessings have been with me ever since. Speaking to you tonight, I want to convey that life is precious, bestowed upon us by God. He chose to give us the highest form of life, that of a human being, with goals and dreams. Regardless of who you are, you can achieve health and success. I wasn't seeking success but proving to myself that I could help others, a responsibility I embrace daily by reaching out to overweight and obese individuals, encouraging them, and helping them in various ways. Your presence here for this fundraiser, despite your busy schedules, means a lot. This is how I achieved all I've done: by planning my days, meals, exercising, and dreaming. Listen to Bruno Mars' "Talking to the Moon" and wish upon the moon. Take care of yourself, eat right, exercise, and be kind to others. These actions lead to a fulfilling life and lasting legacy. Make time for breakfast to fuel your body and mind for success. Remember this talk, stay healthy, and be kind. To conclude, let's bow our heads in prayer, thanking God for bringing us together, watching over our dreams and goals, and blessing us and our families. Amen."
Yeah, weren't they worried he was being abused by his caretaker? Then he came out and said he wasn't, he just didn't want to be a public figure in the shape he was in.
Update 2:46 PM PT -- We're told Simmons fell in the bathroom in his home. LAPD's elite Robbery Homicide Division responded to his house because this is a high-profile death though they still do not suspect foul play.