“I Never Lied”: Pop Culture Icon Arnold Schwarzenegger Couldn’t Stand Comparisons Between Him and Lance Armstrong Back in 2013

Arnold Schwarzenegger has faced his share of public controversies. His rise to stardom from bodybuilding legend, to Hollywood superstar, led to much public scrutiny of his life – much like former cycling icon Lance Armstrong, who was accused and later found guilty of drug use. In 2013, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong confessed to the doping allegations made against him. The next morning, Schwarzenegger was seen on air discussing the former cyclist’s statements.

Although the bodybuilder agreed that he had not seen the talk show himself, he presented his own views on the situation. In one instance, he had a strong reaction when his affair with an ex-housekeeper was compared to Armstrong’s situation.

Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he did not lie

During an interview with Fox News in 2013, Schwarzenegger discussed Lance Armstrong’s admission to doping. When questioned about what Arnold made of the fact that Armstrong came clean and also how more people are forced into situations where they had to lie, Arnold sternly stated, “I’ve never lied.”

Arnold had an affair with his housekeeper Mildred Baena who had been a part of his family for over two decades. In 1997, lovechild Joseph Baena was born shortly after the birth of Arnold’s son Christopher with his wife Maria Shriver.

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“I came very clean when my wife asked me a simple question ‘is this true?’ I said yes” stated the bodybuilding icon. He further explained, “I went out to the public and I immediately said here’s the situation. I fathered the kid. End of story. I never ever beat around the bush. Because it’s always the hiding and the cover-ups that get people into trouble. So I don’t believe in that.”

Arnold nudged the cyclist to take the right step

While Schwarzenegger admitted that he had not seen the interview himself, he had his own view about Armstrong. “I just know that Lance Armstrong is a great athlete and that (he) was very giving and that he was very much involved in charities,” said Arnold. 

The bodybuilder who has redeemed himself in the eyes of his fans said that it is never too late. He wanted the professional cyclist to take the right step as well. “If he has screwed up like he said in the interview yesterday, then he should just clean and he should just ask for forgiveness.”

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