“I Inflicted Tremendous Pain on Maria”: When Arnold Schwarzenegger Took Accountability for His Hurtful Actions Against Wife and Family

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver defied the doubters and critics with the togetherness they demonstrated as they traveled through the different challenges they faced in their marriage. Their instant connection when they first met sustained throughout their journey as a couple. 25 years after their marriage, a scandal broke, leaving the family and well-wishers in utter shock and despair.

The journey of Arnold Schwarzenegger is an exciting ride through ambitions and triumphs. After a roaring career in bodybuilding, he established himself as one of the highest-paid actors worldwide. The Terminator star married his beloved, Maria Shriver in 1986. The couple became parents to four children and led a life everyone dreams of. When the news of his affair with a housekeeper and fathering a child came to light in 2011, Schwarzenegger admitted how miserable he felt about it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger broke his promise

Schwarzenegger authored the book “Total Recall- My unbelievably true life story.” In his first newspaper interview about the memoir in 2012, he discussed his relationship with his estranged wife and children after he confessed to his affair with Mildred Baena and fathering a son, Joseph Baena.

According to him, at most 1% of the book is about his “screwing up” his beautiful personal life by keeping the secret for 14 years from his wife and family. In the book, he describes it as “one of those stupid things I promised myself never to do. My whole life, I never had anything going on with anyone who worked with me.”

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In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes in 2012, he admitted, “I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria and unbelievable pain on the kids.” Also, he regretted how his one act shattered their lives, established on the foundation of love and trust. “It was terrible,” he acknowledged.

Schwarzenegger hoped Shriver would forgive him

Even before his infidelity became public, the Governator wrote about his hope in the chapter titled, “The Secret.” He expressed, “the hope that Maria and I can come back together as husband and wife. ...” Also, he confessed that he was still in love with Shriver. While his hopes can be unrealistic, he said that “it’s the way my mind works.” As an optimist, he had focussed on the positives all his life. “I am optimistic that we will come together again.”

After a decade of filing the divorce, the couple separated in 2021. Undeniably, this is not the ending his fans desired to see. However, for the well-being of their children and as parents, they have put their issues individual issues behind them. Also, they connect with each other and enjoy the time together to celebrate moments of fun and laughter.

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