The announcement of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver parting ways shook the world, leaving many puzzled about the cause behind their decision to split.
It eventually surfaced that Schwarzenegger had a child with their long-time housekeeper, sparking the end of his marriage and family.
Nevertheless, the bodybuilder stood up for Mildred Baena, the housekeeper, and their son Joseph Baena.
Back in 2011, various news outlets unearthed their affair, thrusting the scandal into the limelight for an extended period.
During a 60-minute interview in 2012 with anchor Leslie Stahl, Arnold publicly acknowledged the truth, portraying Mildred as a decent individual.
He emphasized, “I don’t think that Mildred was at all into talking.
Mildred is a good person.
She was not out to get me or to take advantage.”
Reflecting on Joseph Baena’s resemblance to him, Arnold shared, “It just appeared to me there was something off, that he started looking like me.
So that’s when I kind of got it.
It was never discussed.
But, I mean, I put the things together here.
I felt like that I should take on the responsibility of taking care of him and her.
And so I started taking care of Joseph financially.”
Acknowledging his errors, he admitted, “It was more that – it will be the wrong thing to do, to let them go.
And not make her feel like she’s being punished when I find out that this is my child.
I think it was the stupidest thing I’ve done in the whole relationship.
It was terrible.”
Arnold and Maria were once a formidable pair, blessed with four children and sharing countless joyful moments.
However, the upheaval caused turmoil for young Joseph, just 13 years old at the time.
When news of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s affair with the housekeeper broke, his son’s life took a drastic turn.
In 2011, as the scandal erupted, Joseph was immersed in his studies at school, facing a sudden shift in his reality and outlook on life.
Despite the harsh truths, he came to terms with the situation and adapted.
Since then, father and son have invested significant effort in nurturing their bond, often spotted engaging in activities such as cycling and hitting the gym together.
