I have a little lump in my throat as I write this. She is one of the most powerful and adored women. She is the queen of TV…an actress… producer…a book writer… and a lecturer. When she talks, everyone listens. She has billions of followers. All you have to think of is her first name. I am speaking about Oprah.
In the 80s, she flew me out to Baltimore, Maryland to do her local talk show. She greeted me with a smile and a hug. She dressed so beautifully. She was a fashionista. I still remember a long colorful silk scarf that draped around her upper body and tied on her shoulder. When I told her my story, she was interested and showed her happiness for me.
Later when she moved to Chicago, she had me on again. Again only kindness emanated from her. I watched her show every day. She could interview anybody and her audience adored her. When she walked on stage the audience went crazy.
One day she walked out pulling a red wagon …and in the wagon was some kind of lard or fat representing the amount of weight that she lost. Oprah wore a turtleneck and a pair of jeans. She radiated light.
I was coming out of a studio where I met a national gossip columnist named Cindy Adams. She was petite with perfect make up and coiffed hair. She asked me “what do you think of Oprah’s weight loss?” I replied “as long as Oprah exercises and eats healthy she will be fine.”
The next day she wrote a column and the headline was Richard Simmons thinks Oprah will gain all of her weight back and some. I never said that. She made it up to sell newspapers. I forgave Cindy because that is the kind of person that I am.
When Oprah read this I was erased from her life. I was never asked to be on her show again. She never ever forgave me for something I did not say.
I still respect Oprah. Her heart is filled with helping people just like me. I still remember the two times I did her show. I never talked to a gossip columnist again. The world is a better place because of Oprah.
Love,
Richard
