XPost: alt.culture.oregon, alt.cult.glee, or.general   
   XPost: seattle.general   
   From: pubic@harry.com   
      
   In the latest development in the ongoing saga of Richard   
   Simmons, the former fitness guru filed a lawsuit Monday against   
   American Media Inc. — the publisher of National Enquirer and   
   Radar Online — claiming libel and invasion of privacy.   
      
   According to documents acquired by The Times, Simmons alleges   
   that former assistant Mauro Oliveira had "blackmailed, extorted   
   and stalked" him and that the outlets "acted in reckless   
   disregard for the fact that information provided by Mr. Oliveira   
   was false and that he was not a credible or reliable source."   
      
   The lawsuit also references Simmons' retreat from the public   
   eye, beginning in early 2014, before detailing Oliveira's   
   alleged attempts at "destroying the career and reputation of Mr.   
   Simmons" with the sale of false information to outlets such as   
   the National Enquirer.   
      
   "On information and belief, Mr. Oliveira contacted the National   
   Enquirer on at least three separate occasions, offering three   
   separate stories as to why Mr. Simmons has been absent from the   
   media in the past few years," the suit reads.   
      
   "Mr. Oliveira first contacted the National Enquirer on or around   
   May 2015, stating that Mr. Simmons's absence was due to him   
   being 'frail, weak and spiritually broken,' and 'in desperate   
   need of help.'"   
      
   The lawsuit comes after renewed interest in the life of Simmons,   
   spearheaded by a recent podcast titled "Missing Richard Simmons"   
   that purported to investigate why the fitness enthusiast had   
   retired from public life.   
      
   A spokesperson for American Media told People, "While we have   
   not seen Mr. Simmons’ complaint, we stand by our reporting about   
   him, all of which was based on solid sourcing and material   
   evidence. Should he choose to proceed with his lawsuit, we will   
   defend it vigorously, and we look forward to the public   
   vindication of our reports."   
      
   http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-   
   updates-may-richard-simmons-sues-national-enquirer-1494277573-   
   htmlstory.html   
          
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)