(Photo via Wikimedia Commons.)

Richard Simmons has filed a lawsuit against American Media, owner of the National Enquirer and Radar Online, for libel and invasion of privacy, NBC reports.

Simmons retreated from the public eye without explanation in 2014. According to the lawsuit, Simmons is accusing the National Enquirer and Radar Online of publishing false “cruel and malicious” articles that claim Simmons’ public disappearance was due to “transition from male to female” surgeries.

“This case is about a particularly egregious and hurtful campaign of defamations and privacy invasions, falsely asserting that Mr. Simmons is transitioning from a male to a female, including ‘shocking sex surgery,’ breast implants, hormone treatments and consultations on medical castration,” the lawsuit states.

“Mr. Simmons, like every person in this nation, has a legal right to insist that he not be portrayed as someone he is not. Even the most ardent supporter of sexual autonomy and LGBTQ rights is entitled to be portrayed in a manner that is truthful,” the lawsuit continues.

The lawsuit also alleges Simmons’ former assistant Mauro Oliveira had been blackmailing the fitness guru and selling stories to the tabloids. Allegedly, Oliveira told the publications Simmons was “frail, weak and spiritually broken” and that he was “being held hostage by his housekeeper who was controlling Mr. Simmons, taking advantage of his weak mental state and engaging in witchcraft.” The lawsuit states that these stories were meant to  “destroy” Simmons’ “career and reputation.”

A spokesperson for American Media told PEOPLE both publications used accurate reporting when publishing the stories and the publisher plans to “vigorously” defend itself against the allegations.

“While we have not seen Mr. Simmons’ complaint we stand by our reporting about him, all of which was based on solid sourcing and material evidence. Should he choose to proceed with his lawsuit, we will defend it vigorously, and we look forward to the public vindication of our reports,” American Media said in a statement.

Media speculation over Simmons’ disappearance has been rampant since his 2014 disappearance, including in the popular podcast “Missing Richard Simmons.”