“It’s a Bunch of C**p”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Has No Complaints About His Troubled Childhood With a Drunk and Depressed Father

Arnold Schwarzenegger launched his book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life on October 10. The book is Schwarzenegger’s first self-help book, and Arnie has promoted it tirelessly. The 76-year-old has appeared on podcasts and talk shows to spread the word about the book. Recently, the former Governor of California appeared on The Rest is Politics podcast. Hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart sat with the True Lies actor and asked him about his tough childhood.

Campbell asked the action star if he has reconciled “what seems to be quite a troubled relationship” with his father and, to some extent, even his mother.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has no regrets

The Austrian Oak acknowledged the “troubled relationship” he has had with his parents. He confessed feeling “happy” to leave Austria after barely saving enough money to move to America. Since neither of Arnold’s parents was supportive of his bodybuilding career, the 76-year-old felt like he was doing something new. Bodybuilding was “my own thing that was not my parent’s idea,” said Arnie.

Hence, despite his father’s shortcomings and vices, Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t grow up to blame Gustav Schwarzenegger. “I know that there’s a lot of kids, or a lot of grownups that run around and say, Well, this is my parents’ fault. They did this to me,” said Arnie. However, he doesn’t have such an attitude. “I think there’s a bunch of c**p,” to living with such thoughts, said Arnie.

Instead of blaming his alcoholic father or the initial strictness of his mother, Arnie said he loved them. The lack of support from his father lit a fire in Schwarzenegger that pushed him to become successful. The seven-time Mr. Olympia knew he had no room for failure and no one to blame if he didn’t make it.

Read More | “Don’t Waste Your Time on Yourself”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Who Experienced a Troubled Childhood Turns His Father’s Strict Teaching Into a Valuable Asset for His Followers