“Not Necessarily Chasing My Dad”: Badgered With Unending Comparisons With Arnold Schwarzenegger, His Bodybuilder Son Made an Unforeseen Confession in 2022

While growing up in a celebrity’s home might be fun at first, it surely has its challenges. Growing up with 7X Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger as your father probably creates a lot of pressure on the offspring to look a certain way. While Joseph Baena is into fitness and bodybuilding now, he still faces a lot of pressure to look good.

Back in August 2022, during an honest conversation with fitness influencer Bradley Martyn on ‘Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk’ podcast, Baena opened up about the expectations put on his shoulders and how it fuels his determination to achieve an amazing physique. Let’s take a look at what Baena said about his experiences growing up as a Schwarzenegger kid.

Joseph Baena’s candid revelation

Jo Baena admitted in the interview that his lifting journey had its own obstacles. During his teenage years, while battling weight issues, he faced difficulties making it to the sports teams. Along with the scars that this rejection left on him, the additional burden of having a great physique, because he is the son of a bodybuilding legend, made it even worse. However, he admits that Schwarzenegger never himself asked him to get into fitness or acting. It was his own decisions that brought him where he is today.

“I personally put a pressure on myself to constantly have like a certain physique,” revealed Joseph. However, adding to this, he also stated, “My dad’s never said, like oh you should be a bodybuilder…he’s never even said you should get into movies. ..It all just came from me and my passion to do it. I’m not necessarily chasing my dad.”

Read More: “Gym Clothes Underneath. We All Know It”: Bodybuilding World Pokes Fun at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Taking a Break From Flaunting Ripped Muscles

Living up to such an extraordinary legacy can be overwhelming and challenging for anyone. However, Baena realized this early and decided not to use the Schwarzenegger name for underserved opportunities.

Baena refrains from using Arnold’s last name

In a previous interview with Men’s Health, Baena stated that he is adamantly opposed to receiving favors because of his father’s name and standing in the entertainment industry. He admitted that he hides his identity during auditions to try to get in on his own caliber. Baena said, “When I go to auditions, they don’t know who I am, because we don’t have the same last name.“

Continuing further, Baena said, “I love the word honor, and I’m very prideful in the sense that if I use my dad’s contacts or ask him for favors, I wonder what honor is that gonna bring me?“

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Baena’s story is a clear reminder that behind the glamorous facade of fame and fortune, every individual has his challenges to deal with. However, through hard work and dedication, Baena has made a name for himself.