Richard Simmons, the well known American fitness master, has weighed in on Miley Cyrus's recent performance at the 2013 MTV VMAs.

Everyone seems to be talking about her live set, which included 'twerking', thrusting and being a provocative pop artist, and Simmons explained to ET Online that he thought it was a 'cry for love':

"Was it over the top? Yes. And why did she do that? To entertain the young people and to cry out, 'Won't you love me?'"

"Miley Cyrus, like all of us, needs to be loved. We all come from complicated parents… I understand her, and I love her, and I think things will be different with her."

Simmons (pictured below) added: "But you know, in the music business, sometimes you have to shock a little."