He's not going to take it anymore!

Richard Simmons is suing The National Enquirer and Radar, both owned by AMI, for printing stories that he retreated from the spotlight to transition into a woman. He's citing libel and invasion of privacy.

"The cruel and malicious publication of these stories is particularly offensive because Mr. Simmons fully supports individual autonomy and the essential human dignity of every person to make his or her own personal choices regarding sexual identity. The National Enquirer and Radar Online have cheaply and crassly commercialized and sensationalized an issue that ought to be treated with respect and sensitivity. Principles of freedom of speech and press may protect their prerogative to mock and degrade the LGBTQ community. But freedom to speak is not freedom to defame," the complaint reads.

"People have a right to privacy, and just because someone is a public figure doesn't mean their right to privacy is gone. Richard is very glad get his side of the story out. This has been going on for a long time," Simmons' rep Michael Catalano added to NBC News.

AMI isn't backing down and is standing by their reporting. They issued the below statement on Radar yesterday:
    For decades, Richard Simmons has used his outrageous behavior to build his brand and his bank account. For Mr. Simmons to now claim that his privacy has been invaded is hypocritical when his entire livelihood is based upon the public consumption of his image. To wit, Mr. Simmons signed a lucrative merchandising deal with a major branding company in April to handle licensing of his name and likeness. At the same time, he protests that he is entitled to privacy and therefore should not be subjected to scrutiny of the media, which has raised reasonable questions about his health and whereabouts since he disappeared from the public eye almost four years ago. This is a legitimate news story that demands coverage. It is the business of Radar and The National ENQUIRER — and has been for the past 90 years — to report on what goes on behind the closed doors of Hollywood. Moreover, Mr. Simmons is raising a false equivalency in suggesting that Radar and The ENQUIRER’s coverage of gender identity somehow implies that the publication has a stance or position on this. We do not. Indeed, it is ironic that Mr. Simmons claims to be an avid supporter of the LGBTQ community while at the same time alleges that he was defamed by Radar and The ENQUIRER report that he had transitioned into a female. At the end of the day, how Mr. Simmons lives his life is news and of interest to our readers. Our story was based on credible sources who were in Mr. Simmons’ inner circle. The photos provided to Radar and The ENQUIRER, below, are real — and speak for themselves. We stand by our reporting about Mr. Simmons, and intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit and win public vindication of our reports. We will also aggressively pursue our ongoing investigation into his life and who is really behind this bizarre and meritless lawsuit."

Can't they just let him live in peace?