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.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver celebrate his victory in the California gubernatorial recall election on Oct. 7, 2003. More Pics >>
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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)
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)
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)
(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)
(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)
(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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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.
yes, it is indeed all of the factors you have mentioned. My bet is on the innocence of this child. The child has done nothing wrong. I do not understand why today in this age things like this occur. The women hold the power. Why screw up everyone's lives like this?
There's nothing to see here, let's move along everybody. There is enough hurt & blame to go around, but this is a FAMILY matter. There is NO HONOR in us all giving our 2 cents. Let's leave this family alone & hope they'll all find peace.
Bravo, Josie. I agree with you 100%. Lots of hurt people here, including, believe it or not, the mother of that child. It is an agonizing situation, and the kindest thing we can do is leave it alone,a nd pray for all the parties involved, including Arnold.
Who really cares???It's there life let them be!!! To many gossip bodies and drama queens that get off on this stuff and want to have all the dirty details of it all. Give them privacy and mind your own affairs in your life and not others!!!
Why would anyone rich get married. Believe me there was more than one! Believe me, Maria dipped in too, but has not been caught. 80% married couples cheat on each other. The other 10% are too ugly or do not have any game, 10% are loyal to each other. Think about all of your friends and relatives most of them have cheated. Separation means I get to have sex with other people.
To Bonbon...Yes, both parties makes moral mistakes. But, it is extra hard to stomach when the party who loves to distinguish themselves as " THE Christian and Pro-Family choice" act this way. It's like the preacher who condemns homosexuality in the pulpit but practices it in the shadows.
Yea Sharon, most Republicans try to hold themselves above cheating on their spouses, some fall, and ask for forgiveness, others don't care! They, Demos, and Repubs, that cheat, are only sorry, when they are caught. The way old Arnie kissed up to that moron that sometimes sits in the White House, ( when he isn't out burning thousands of gallons of fuel) He was never a Republican, no Republican worth his salt, doesn't believe in abortion, ( some do, Arnie does) gay marriages, Arnie is all for it. And, he, and Jerry Brown are putting California, in the hole, which, it already have been done. I was a born, and raised Californian, couldn't get out of there, fast enough.So with clinton, and the rest of the good old boys, they need to go off, and do each other.
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yes, it is indeed all of the factors you have mentioned. My bet is on the innocence of this child. The child has done nothing wrong. I do not understand why today in this age things like this occur. The women hold the power. Why screw up everyone's lives like this?
oh my God you are so stupid, the word bastard is so outdated, nobody uses that word anymore
Nobody uses that word anymore? I heard it at least 50 times since this morning.
After 4 kids and years of steroids abuse he probably couldnt touch the sides of that thing anymore. I dont blame him for cheating.
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YOU ARE JUST AS SICK AS HE (ARNOLD) IS!!!! GET A LIFE! YOU PROBABLY HAVEN`T EVER TOUCHED ANYONE,LET ALONE THE INSIDE! :p
There's nothing to see here, let's move along everybody.
There is enough hurt & blame to go around, but this is a FAMILY matter. There is NO HONOR in us all giving our 2 cents. Let's leave this family alone & hope they'll all find peace.
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Bravo, Josie. I agree with you 100%. Lots of hurt people here, including, believe it or not, the mother of that child. It is an agonizing situation, and the kindest thing we can do is leave it alone,a nd pray for all the parties involved, including Arnold.
This is nobody's business but theirs. Leave them alone.
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republicans dont belong in the kennedy family anyway -she now sees her mistake
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Right. Because the Kennedy men were so chaste...
For Kennedy men, sex was unavoidable with their killer looks and lush lifestyle - they dont live long but they live beyond most could dream
Who really cares???It's there life let them be!!! To many gossip bodies and drama queens that get off on this stuff and want to have all the dirty details of it all. Give them privacy and mind your own affairs in your life and not others!!!
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It's a good thing it's zombie month
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"underlying"
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Why would anyone rich get married. Believe me there was more than one! Believe me, Maria dipped in too, but has not been caught. 80% married couples cheat on each other. The other 10% are too ugly or do not have any game, 10% are loyal to each other. Think about all of your friends and relatives most of them have cheated. Separation means I get to have sex with other people.
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your very close to right! only thing I would change is, why would anyone get married, not just the rich. Marriage is legal ownership, that's all
I don't know what Maria ever saw in him anyway......ish....never liked him!!
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Arnie is just trying to prove to the Hollywood set that he is just as hypocritical and immoral as they are........
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To Bonbon...Yes, both parties makes moral mistakes. But, it is extra hard to stomach when the party who loves to distinguish themselves as " THE Christian and Pro-Family choice" act this way. It's like the preacher who condemns homosexuality in the pulpit but practices it in the shadows.
Reply
Yea Sharon, most Republicans try to hold themselves above cheating on their spouses, some fall, and ask for forgiveness, others don't care! They, Demos, and Repubs, that cheat, are only sorry, when they are caught. The way old Arnie kissed up to that moron that sometimes sits in the White House, ( when he isn't out burning thousands of gallons of fuel) He was never a Republican, no Republican worth his salt, doesn't believe in abortion, ( some do, Arnie does) gay marriages, Arnie is all for it. And, he, and Jerry Brown are putting California, in the hole, which, it already have been done. I was a born, and raised Californian, couldn't get out of there, fast enough.So with clinton, and the rest of the good old boys, they need to go off, and do each other.