According to the assertions made by Richard Simmons’ longstanding home manager, she was placed under pressure to remove herself from her position as a co-trustee of the late fitness guru’s estate. The Simmons family is rejecting these claims.
On Wednesday, September 25, Teresa Reveles, who had been Simmons’ friend and home manager for the last 36 years, submitted a petition to be re-appointed as a co-trustee for Simmons’ estate.
During the time when Reveles was mourning for Richard, she said that she was deceived by Simmons’ brother Lenny and his wife Cathy into giving up the job for which she had been auditioning. In addition to being a beneficiary, Lenny is also in the role of co-trustee for Richard’s estate.
Tom Estey, who serves as a spokesman for the Simmons family, has supplied PEOPLE with an exclusive statement in response to the petition that Reveles submitted.
“Richard’s message was always one of happiness and optimism,” the speaker said. When he found out about Teresa’s greed, he would be devastated, and he would be embarrassed by the fact that she would undermine their alleged relationship that has lasted for thirty years in such a public manner. In the beginning of the statement, it is said that “her actions pose a threat to Richard’s incredible legacy, which we are working very hard to preserve.”
“Richard took impeccable care of Teresa and made sure even after his passing that she was well taken care of,” according to the subsequent statement. It is important to note that she is a beneficiary of his will. However, the fact that she chose not to serve as a co-trustee of the estate is not in any way connected to her position as a beneficiary. She took her choice after careful consideration.
It has been brought to her attention that the claims included in the petition are absolutely and utterly untrue, and we have advised her lawyers of this knowledge. Teresa’s plea to be restored as a co-trustee was denied due to the fact that co-trustees are required to collaborate in order to serve the best interests of the estate. Teresa has shown via her conduct that she does not share those objectives.
Even today, two months after his passing, she continues to dwell at his home, despite the fact that she has her own property. She has also made an effort to get reimbursement from the estate for the costs associated with her living expenditures. It has also come to our attention that a documentary has been proposed to Netflix, in which Teresa is cited as the primary source and contributor. We are of the opinion that this documentary will be detrimental to Richard’s legacy.
Unfortuitously, it would seem that Teresa plans to pursue litigation that is both meritless and futile in order to squander the assets of the estate, which would otherwise be distributed to the beneficiaries. In the event that the court is made aware of the facts that have already been provided to Teresa’s counsel, we are certain that the court will reject the petition.
Reveles submitted a petition to the court requesting that it prevent Lenny from making any profit off of Richard’s appearance and likeness until the dispute is settled. Her status as a beneficiary of Richard’s estate has not changed.
In an effort to get a response on the Simmons family statement, PEOPLE has contacted the attorneys representing Reveles.
It was two days after Richard had fallen at his house that he passed away on the morning of July 13th. Reveles’s bedroom was the location where his lifeless corpse was discovered, and he was pronounced de.ad at the site of the crime.
He had just celebrated his 76th birthday the day before, according to a news release issued by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office on August 22. The press statement said that Simmons had passed away from severe traumatic injuries over his life.
