The longtime housekeeper and friend of the late fitness guru Richard Simmons has filed a lawsuit against the late singer’s brother, alleging that she was pressured into relinquishing her role as co-trustee of Simmons’ estate during a time of extreme stress.
Theresa Rebeles lived and worked with Simmons for 35 years, from 1987 until his sudden death in July at the age of 76.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Reveles filed a petition alleging that Richard’s brother, Leonard (Renee) Simmons, and his wife, Cathy Simmons, demanded that she sign papers stripping her of her role as co-trustee of Richard’s estate just days after his death on July 13, when she was “understandably distraught.”
TMZ was first to report the news.
“Teresa lived with Richard for nearly 36 years, cared for him and was his closest friend and devoted confidant. It is only natural that Richard has named Teresa as one of the successor trustees of his trust, as it is his desire and expectation that she would assume responsibility for the administration of the trust in the event of his predecessor,” the petition, obtained by People magazine, reads.
Teresa Reveles and Richards Simmons in an undated photo.
Courtesy of Teresa Reveles
The petition states that despite Ms Rebeles asking for time to process the situation, Renee and Cathy “immediately” took her into a meeting “to discuss Richard’s financial matters” after “she had opened the casket and viewed Richard’s body.”
Reveles claims she didn’t understand what she was signing at the time — English is not her first language — but signed anyway out of fear she would lose her rights to Richard’s estate because she was a beneficiary, and calls Renee’s actions a “diabolical scheme.”
Additionally, she claims she was not given the opportunity to speak with her own legal counsel before signing the documents.
Reveles has now hired an attorney to try to have her status as co-trustee reinstated in accordance with Richard’s wishes, but her attorneys claim the law firm handling the trust is not complying with their requests.
She also claims that the siblings “had not seen each other in person for over six years prior to Richard’s death.”
Until the matter is resolved, Reveles is asking the court to prohibit Renee from profiting from Richard’s image and likeness.
PEOPLE has reached out to Renee Simmons for comment.
Richard Simmons circa 1984.
American Broadcasting Company (via Getty)
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The fitness guru fell on July 11 and spent the next day in bed before being found unconscious by Reveles.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office announced in a press release on August 22 that his official cause of death was blunt force trauma. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
“When I saw him, he seemed calm,” Rebeles exclusively told People magazine about finding Richard with his fists clenched in their bedroom in July, “so I knew it was a heart attack. I had a heart attack a few years ago, and I had one like that.”
“He died happy,” she said.
Renee also previously spoke about her brother’s relationship with Rebeles.
“Teresa was very loyal and trustworthy,” he told People magazine exclusively. “She loved her brother and he loved her. We are so blessed to have had Teresa in our lives.”
