‘The Mystery of Richard Simmons' Is The Most-Watched ABC News Primetime Special Since 2020
Fans clearly wanted to know whether the mystery was solved. Diane Sawyer's special, The Mystery of Richard Simmons, has seen its audience increase 57% in the month since it first aired.
Sawyer's special on Richard Simmons aired May 12 on ABC News to an audience of nearly 5 million viewers. Since then, the combined broadcast and streaming viewership has totaled over 10 million, according to both Nielsen and Disney's data. The Mystery of Richard Simmons had an encore telecast on June 1, which drew 2.7 million viewers that Monday alone. The special aired on ABC and is also available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
The live and same-day audience numbers alone made The Mystery of Richard Simmons the most-watched ABC News Primetime Special since Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute to a King almost 6 years ago. Nielsen data showed that the special outperformed all other non-sports programming in the 9 p.m. slot during its initial linear airing.
In The Mystery of Richard Simmons, Sawyer explores Simmons' life from his first taste of fame to his sudden turn away from the public in 2014. The special features people close to Simmons who share details of his life and legacy for the first time.
Sawyer explained that 10 years after his disappearance, Simmons reached out to her. She told ABC News'Phillip Palmer that Simmons sent her flowers and a note that said, "I trust you." Sawyer said that "he was ready to come tell his story."
Shortly after reaching out to Sawyer, Simmons passed away. The LA County Medical Examiner's office ruled his death accidental from a fall that the television personality took a few days prior; heart disease reportedly may also have caused the fall. Simmons' brother asked Sawyer and other friends of the fitness guru to tell his story anyway.
Simmons was best known for his weight-loss programs and line of aerobics videos. His iconic look drew attention, and he became a frequent guest on various talk shows. He stepped away from the spotlight in 2014 and passed away July 13, 2024.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM.