Grapevine: Richard Simmons assures fans he’s OK
Richard Simmons hasn’t been kidnapped
Fitness guru Richard Simmons assures his fans that he’s OK after bizarre news reports surfaced that he may be kidnapped or being held hostage by his housekeeper. “I love all the people who worry about me,” he told “Entertainment Tonight” via phone. “It was time for me to take time to be myself. For the last 40 years I have been traveling, teaching classes and I had a knee injury, so I had a knee replacement, which was very difficult for me. I have really just been taking it easy, staying at home, working out in my gym and doing the things I haven’t done in a very long time.” Simmons’ last public appearance was the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Mark Wahlberg initially didn’t like ‘Wahlburgers’
Actor Mark Wahlberg recently announced that he is expanding the chain of Wahlburger restaurants that he owns with his brothers, Paul and Donnie, including locations in Michigan (569 Monroe in Greektown). The star told Adweek recently that at first he didn’t like the name. “I said, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ I spent 20-some-odd years building my brand and going from the music world to being taken really seriously as an actor and a producer. I said, ‘There’s no way. Call it Paul’s Place, whatever you want. I’ll fund it for you, but this is not going to happen,’ ” he told Adweek. “Then I thought, wait a second here. If we could really build a business, a real business, then that’s something that I’m interested in. But we’re going to do it in a big way. I want to be around to enjoy it. And so things kind of happened.”
Aaron Carter: ‘I support Donald Trump’
Former child pop star Aaron Carter opened up to GQ magazine about his decision to support Donald Trump, something he announced on Twitter last week. “It was more than just a tweet, I guess,” he said to GQ. “I support Donald Trump. I don’t support every little thing. Trump goes his own way. He’s a leader, not a follower, and he’s proven that by humbling the other campaigns. I think in regards to him becoming president, well, the electoral college will be the decider.” Carter, 28, who is the younger brother of Backstreet Boy member Nick Carter, says he doesn’t agree with the ban on gay marriage and the building of the wall. Carter also admits he’s never voted before. Carter isn’t the only star to weigh in on his feelings about Trump. Johnny Depp, who played the candidate in the spoof biopic “The Art of the Deal,” calls Trump “a brat.” “There’s a pretense. There’s something created about him in the sense of bullydom,” Depp said. “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban told TMZ that he thinks Trump’s run for president could “hurt more than help” his business empire.
Rihanna to be honored at BET’s Black Girls Rock
Singer Rihanna will receive the Rock Star Award at BET’s annual Black Girls Rock event, which will air April 5 on the network. The show will tape April 1 and also will honor television producer Shonda Rhimes, singer Gladys Knight and actors Danai Gurira (“Walking Dead”) and Amandla Stenberg (“The Hunger Games”).
Coffee, conversation at Will Leather Goods
Midtown’s Will Leather Goods will host discussions with guest speakers throughout the month of April. Radio talk-show host Karen Dumas of 910 AM will kick off the series at 8-10 a.m. April 1. Former radio personality and author Allyson Martinek will be the featured guest April 8. The events are free and include a cup of coffee. Will Leather Goods is at 4120 Second.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Tuesday’s birthdays
Mike Love, 75
Dee Snider, 61
Bret Michaels, 53
Eva Longoria, 41
Will.i.am, 41