RICHARD SIMMONS - FITNESS ICON RICHARD SIMMONS CITED FOR SLAPPING MAN

Flamboyant fitness guru RICHARD SIMMONS has been cited by authorities in Arizona for allegedly "bitch slapping" a man in an airport for poking fun at his exercise videos.

Simmons, 55, was ticketed for misdemeanour assault after allegedly striking the man across the face while in line at PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT last night (24MAR04).

Sergeant LAURI WILLIAMS says, "He apparently said, 'Hey everybody, it's Richard Simmons, let's drop our bags and rock to the '50s,' in reference to a series of his well-known videos.

Williams adds, "Mr Simmons took offense and said he had to 'bitch slap' him."

The man told police that he wanted to press charges against Simmons, who was cited but allowed to board a plane to Las Vegas, Nevada.