Maria Shriver: 'This Is a Painful and Heartbreaking Time'

By Marc Schneider Posted May 17th 2011 01:04PM

Maria Shriver has asked for compassion and privacy just hours after it was revealed that her husband of 25 years, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, had fathered a child with a member of their household staff.

"This is a painful and heartbreaking time," Shriver said in a statement to the media. "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."

They have four children, ranging in age from 13 to 21. One of them, 17-year-old Patrick, took to Twitter today to say he "feels like s**t" but loves his family.

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Arnold and Maria

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver celebrate his victory in the California gubernatorial recall election on Oct. 7, 2003. More Pics >>

Arnold and Maria

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's home entrance is shown outside a gated community Tuesday May 17, 2011 in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger acknowledged Tuesday 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. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Arnold and Maria

FILE - This file photo taken Oct. 7, 2003, shows former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, as they celebrate his victory in the California gubernatorial recall election in Los Angeles. 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. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Arnold and Maria

FILE - In this file photo taken Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger kisses his wife, Maria Shriver, after taking his oath of office in Sacramento, Calif. 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. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Arnold and Maria

(FILES)California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to reporters after members of the National Governors Association met with US President Barack Obama February 22, 2010 at the White House in Washington, DC. Movie megastar and former US governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday his wife Maria Shriver separated from him after he admitted to fathering a child with a member of the household staff. "After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger, 63, said in the statement to the Los Angeles Times."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. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Arnold and Maria

(FILES)California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger makes the announcement that sufficient money had been raised to purchase and protect the land around the historic Hollywood sign in Hollywood on April 26, 2010. Movie megastar and former US governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said May 17, 2011 his wife Maria Shriver separated from him after he admitted to fathering a child with a member of the household staff. "After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger, 63, said in the statement to the Los Angeles Times. "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. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Arnold and Maria

(FILES) In this filed photo dated October 2, 2009 shows former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver during a photo call at the Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles. Movie megastar and former US governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday his wife Maria Shriver separated from him after he admitted to fathering a child with a member of the household staff. "After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger, 63, said in the statement to the Los Angeles Times. "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. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON / FILES (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Arnold and Maria

In a May 10, 2011 photo Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at the Israel 63rd Independence Day Celebration hosted by the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger has acknowledged that he fathered a child with a member of his household staff, (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Arnold and Maria

Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at the Israel 63rd Independence Day Celebration hosted by the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 10, 2011. Schwarzenegger was honored at the event. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Arnold and Maria

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 10: (FILE PHOTO) Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger accepts an award at Skirball Cultural Center on May 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times that he fathered a child with a member of his household staff. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images For The Consulate General of Israel)

Arnold and Maria

The former California governor had similar sentiment in comments to the Los Angeles Times earlier Tuesday. "I ask that the media respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time. While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not."

Shriver reportedly moved out of the couple's house earlier this year after Schwarzenegger revealed to her that he was the father of a staff member's child.

"After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger said Monday 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 apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry."

The woman with whom Schwarzenegger had the affair reportedly worked in the family's home for the past 20 years, and retired this past January. Though her name has not been released, she told the Times that she left voluntarily and received severance pay.

"I wanted to achieve my 20 years, then I asked to retire," she said, adding that she "left on good terms with them."

Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced their seemingly shocking separation just last week.

Tags: arnold schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver

Comments

(645)

Tuesday 17 May

By Michelle

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I hope she takes him for all he has... Lying and cheating and hiding a child... He should be ashamed and just disappear..

By bitty

Why are they trying to sanitize the story? Just quit playing around and say that "Arnold knocked up the maid".

By jack

Bitty, how do you know it was the maid? Maybe it was the cook.

By David

He was a bad governor and husband. I am glad he is out of office. Hopefully she will take him to the CLEANERS. He is a sad excuse for a husband.

By Howard

This is great karma for this POS who just let the convited murder Nunez get out of prison early because he and papa Nunez like to bl** each other!! Arnold is not a man, he's a p*g in every way. And thats putting down p*gs.

By Who Cares

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Dang, it was the same old wiener story that did again, again, and again. John Edward, Bill Clinton, Rev Jackson, Tiger Wood, and so on. What are we gonna do .... I think most married women tend to push away their husbands hand when they asked for sex. Hmm, I think so.

By vsemones

Odd how he wants US to repect her when he obviously didn't.

By CeeDee

It sounds as though you give none of the responsiblity for this to the woman involved. I think she has has already seen monetary gain and that is probably the very reason SHE didn't use any birth control. It does take two to tango!

By Tess

Unbelievably, undeniably selfish and cruel to keep the "help" present/employed in Maria's home... While pregnant with his child and beyond... for 10 years! I don't know who is worse, Arnold for doing this to his wife and family or the "help" for sleeping with a married man, staying employed on site, and continuously lying to Maria. For shame... to Arnold and the mistress.

By Bob

You hope she takes him for all he has? Good for you...sounds like a female's perspective. My ex-wife cheated on me and then still took me for all she could. The legal system prosecutes the male regradless of who's at fault. Enjoy your alimony Michelle... Ms. Shriver has enough money of her own to support a rather nice lifestyle already.

By Jeanne

Arnold, How could you let your head get ahead of your ZIPPER? Maria has been a wonderful woman and wife, she has always cared about her children and family! Shame on you Arnold!

By Tracy

Easy there Michelle. Not one of is is perfect

By allen

hey he cheated all his life...Cheated for the titles when weighlifting so she walked right in with eyes OPEN...Go terminator go..

By MYBAD

Michelle, Yes he should fry but women are just as bad fry one fry all !!!!

By Fred Thomas

For those intrested in history, this is an old story. The Master always had numerous children by the slaves. Those children were permitted to work in house rather than the fields. And by the way, the wife always knew - and accepted the right of the master to impregnate his flock. Things have not changed so much except women now attempt to act supprised when the public gets knowledge.

By RapidEye55

I've live on this Planet for awhile now, and am amazed at the segment of the population that still believes a man is capable of loving only one woman. Who started this myth? A woman? Religious fanatics? Who decided to call this "cheating"? If women would just realize the Truth of the matter, there wouldn't have to be "cheating". For the women who can't accept it, there's always lesbianism. We were all created by God with an Infinite Power to love; let's spread that around a little more. No Judgment. No Guilt. No Pressure. No Hype. Just Allowing Everyone to Be Who They Are. Women should not enter marriage if they believe their man can be faithful to them alone (some men can, but let's not label the majority with ugly words like "cheating"). We once believed "One Life, One Marriage". Now that divorce is accepted virtually everywhere, can we continue to grow in the understanding of what some are capable of, everyone isn't capable of? This is 2011, not the world of our parents and grandparents.

By TTB

Why? You do not remember all those years ago when Maria came out and denounced all the women as liars? Sowing and reaping.

By Mary

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HAHAHAAHAHAHA!!! You married a Pardon given p**** of s***! What did you expect!!! This man does not even have the backbone, morals whatever you want to call it to keep a murderer in prison!!! TRASH!!!! Letting a murderer out of prison because your boyfriend his his daddy is wrong on every level! This is KARMA!! HAHAHAHAHAAH!!!

By Dee

I kind of wonder what the woman looked like and who she was. What went down.

By dee

Denying your child, and holding it up to humiliation in front of your other children is disgusting. Arrgh. We should never forget. If the child has ever helped it's parent then it's brothers and sisters may have asked him or her to do work. A Cinderella story. I am po'd. This is the worst stuff. The worst. This is no reflection on the wife and children unless the wife knew. She should share in the regret. Is he narcissistic, pervy, aggressive, lying, domineering? A cure. Take Gabapentin. Stop drinking or drugs. Start a healthy diet. NO steroids cause they contribute to this behavior. Exercise. A person like that would be lost to me unless I could change them. First step. Admit it, or don't expect us to hold you in any regard.

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