Leak Fest: Are Arnold and Maria Behind All the Negative Stories?

By Rob Shuter Posted May 25th 2011 09:45AM

Can you believe it? It's only been a little over a week since the stop-the-presses story of Arnold Schwarzenegger's love child emerged, and after a flurry of new details -- divorce lawyers, rumors of additional kids and mistresses -- the finger is now pointed back to the jilted wife. Is Maria Shriver behind the leaking of the original story?

According to TMZ, a "hysterical" Maria wanted to hold a press conference after learning the truth about the true paternity of Mildred Patty Baena's son, but was convinced to just leak the story to a pair of media outlets.

In addition to putting the focus on Maria, negative stories have also appeared in the media attacking Mildred as well and people that know a thing or two about spinning a story -- media insiders and PR flacks -- tell me this is exactly what the former Governor needs right now.

"Arnold and his people have long been known to fight hard to make sure they got rid of any negative stories about him," one media insider tells me. "No one is more aggressive than Arnold's team, which explains why he has been able to hide this story for over a decade."

As is the case with a lot of "other women," much of the media's attention has been focused on finding out more about Arnold's former mistress. Sample headlines include, 'Arnold's Baby Mama -- MANEATER!' and 'Arnold's Baby Mama -- 'Self Hating Hispanic'

"Anyone that thinks these stories are just popping up by themselves is naive," one A-list publicist tells me. "This is obviously an attempt to distract attention from the man who caused all this and direct it to Maria, who has done nothing wrong. Just because it's worked for him in the past, it's not going to work this time."

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Arnold and Maria

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2011 file photo, actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, and his wife, Maria Shriver, look on during the funeral service of Maria's father, Sargent Shriver, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic church in Potomac, Md. The power-couple's marriage has collapsed amid revelations that Schwarzenegger fathered a child with their live-in housekeeper 14 years ago but hid the truth from his wife. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Arnold and Maria

Â©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Christina Schwarzenegger leaves The Harvest restaurant at The Brentwood Country Mart in her Mercedes Benz 'G-Wagen' NON-EXCLUSIVE May 20, 2011 Job: 110520P13 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com [ID 110520201]

Arnold and Maria

Â©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Maria Shriver has moved into the Montage hotel in Beverly Hills following her separation from husband Arnold Schwarzenegger EXCLUSIVE May 14, 2011 Job: 110514R2 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Arnold and Maria