01 November 2023 , 08:30
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Actor and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up about the moment his "heart stopped" after his wife finally confronted him about their housekeeper's son, asking him once and for all whether he was the father. In the three-part Netflix docuseries Arnold, which focuses on the iconic action star's varied life and career, the 76-year-old spoke candidly about the counseling sessions he and wife Maria Shriver attended after cracks began to show in their marriage.
During one such session in 2011, Maria finally confronted him about the parentage of their housekeeper Mildred Baena's son, Joseph Baena, who was born mere days after Maria gave birth to their fourth child Christopher in 1997.
Arnold and Maria parted ways in 2011 (Getty Images)Remembering that particularly difficult conversation in the doc, Arnold recalled: "One day, the counselor said, 'Today Maria wants to be very specific about something. She wants to know if you're the father of Joseph'. I thought my heart stopped. And then I told the truth. 'Yes, Maria. Joseph is my son'. She was obviously crushed by that."
According to Arnold, Mildred had continued to work for them after their 1996 affair, and she had initially believed her husband Rogelio to be Joseph's father. At first, Arnold wasn't sure, remarking that "the older he got, the more it became clear".
Maria and Arnold, who share four children, made the decision to separate in 2011, and Arnold now regards the affair as his biggest "failure". Nowadays, however, he maintains a close relationship with the now 25-year-old Joseph, who has reportedly inherited his father's talents for acting and bodybuilding.
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Arnold, who made sure to provide for Mildred after she split from Rogelio, shared: "I have caused enough pain for my family, because of my f***-up. Everyone had to suffer. Maria had to suffer, the kids had to suffer, Joseph, his mother, everyone. I'm going to have to live with that for the rest of my life."
Reflecting on the person Joseph has become, proud dad Arnold continued: "I saw Joseph developing into a fantastic human being. It was wrong what I did but I don't want Joseph to think he's not welcome in this world because he is very much welcome and I love him. He has turned out to be an extraordinary young man."