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caught stepping out of bounds is the action movie legend and former governor of California – Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has acknowledged that he fathered a child with a member of his household staff, a revelation that apparently prompted wife Maria Shriver to leave the couple’s home before they announced their separation last week.
Schwarzenegger and Shriver jointly announced on May 9 that they were splitting up after 25 years of marriage.
Yet, Shriver moved out of the family’s Brentwood mansion earlier in the year after Schwarzenegger acknowledged the child is his, The Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.
“After leaving the governor’s office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
“I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologised to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.
“I ask that the media respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time,” the statement concluded.
“While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not.”
Schwarzenegger’s representatives did not comment further.
NBC News reported on Tuesday that California’s former first lady issued a statement: “This is a painful and heartbreaking time.
“As a mother, my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal. I will have no further comment.”
Their son, Patrick (17), broke silence on Tuesday, Tweeting: “Some days you feel like s—, some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit, yet I love my family till death do us apart. #family.”
When parents Schwarzenegger and Shriver first announced their separation last week, Patrick on Twitter called it a “small speed bump in life, luckily we own Hummers, we will cruise right over it. All will be okay. #peace.”
The Times did not publish the former staffer’s name but said the woman worked for the family for 20 years and retired in January.
In an interview on Monday before Schwarzenegger issued his statement, the former staffer said another man – her husband at the time – was the child’s father. She said she voluntarily left her position with the couple “on good terms”.
When the Times later informed the woman of the governor’s statement, she declined to comment further. The child was born before Schwarzenegger began his seven-year stint in public office.
Shriver stood by her husband during his 2003 gubernatorial campaign after the Los Angeles Times reported accusations that he had a history of groping women. Schwarzenegger later said he “behaved badly sometimes”.
In his first public comments since the couple announced their break-up, Schwarzenegger said last week that he and Shriver “both love each other very much”.
“We are very fortunate that we have four extraordinary children and we’re taking one day at a time,” he said at a Los Angeles event marking Israeli independence.
Their children range in age from 13 to 21.
Since his term as California governor ended in early January, Schwarzenegger (63), has hopscotched around the world, his wife nowhere in sight.
While the “Terminator” star appeared confident about the future since exiting politics, cutting movie deals and fashioning himself as a global spokesman for green energy, Shriver, known for her confidence, seemed unsettled.
Shriver (55) maintained her own identity when her husband entered politics, though she gave up her job at NBC. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of NBC Universal and Microsoft.)
Their union was often tested in Sacramento, where the former action star contended with a rough seven years of legislative gridlock, a budget crisis and lingering questions about his fidelity.
Shriver’s mother was the sister of assassinated president John F. Kennedy and her father, Sargent Shriver, was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 1972.
Sargent Shriver died in January at the age of 95.
Though a lifelong Democrat, Shriver campaigned for her Republican husband when he sought to recall and replace then-Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, in 2003.
She took to the stump to help Schwarzenegger win re-election in 2006. – MSNBC.