Arnold Schwarzenegger Recalls Moment He Told Maria Shriver He Had Child with Housekeeper: 'She Was Crushed'

In the Netflix documentary series 'Arnold,' the actor shares his recollection of confessing to Maria Shriver about his involvement with their housekeeper and fathering a child during a session of couples therapy.

Reflecting on his personal life, Arnold Schwarzenegger, now 75, discusses his Hollywood career, his tenure as California governor, and the scandals he faced in the new Netflix docu-series titled 'Arnold.'

During the series, Schwarzenegger recounts the moment he revealed his affair with the housekeeper Mildred Baena and the fact that they had a son named Joseph Baena, who is now 25, to his wife Maria Shriver and their children.

He recalls a counseling session where the counselor suggested that Maria wanted specific information. Schwarzenegger says, "I think today Maria wants to be very specific about something. She wants to know if you are the father of Joseph." The actor remembers feeling his heart stop and then decided to tell the truth, confessing, "'Yes, Maria, Joseph is my son.'" He recalls that Maria was devastated by the revelation. Schwarzenegger acknowledges having the affair in 1996 and initially not realizing the paternity of Joseph. As time passed, it became clear to him, and he struggled with keeping it a secret.

Schwarzenegger expresses reluctance to discuss the matter further, as it reopens old wounds. He acknowledges the pain he caused his family and acknowledges their suffering. He admits, "I think that 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," as stated in the Netflix documentary.

The Terminator actor married Maria Shriver in 1986, and they have four children together: Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher.

Schwarzenegger acknowledges that he will have to live with his actions for the rest of his life. He understands that people will remember his successes but also his failures, and considers this affair a significant failure. Despite that, he speaks highly of his son Joseph, stating that he is a "fantastic man" who makes him proud. Schwarzenegger expresses his love for Joseph and emphasizes that he is very much welcomed in the world.

Regarding his relationship with Maria Shriver, Schwarzenegger expresses happiness about how they were able to raise their children despite the sad story. He appreciates the importance of having a good partner and acknowledges Maria as such. He notes that while they still maintain a great relationship and spend special days together as a family, it is not the same as when they were all under one roof.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced their separation in May 2011. Soon after, Schwarzenegger publicly apologized for the affair in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. He took full responsibility for the hurt he caused and expressed his apologies to Maria, their children, and their family.

In a subsequent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Schwarzenegger mentioned that he doesn't miss being married. He shared his pride in his girlfriend, Heather Milligan, and their close relationship. He also mentioned that he and Maria are good friends and proud of how they raised their kids, even with the challenges they faced.

Shriver revealed in an interview in February that after the breakup, she sought life advice by spending time at a convent.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver's divorce was finalized in December 2021, ten years after their separation was announced.

'Arnold' will start streaming on Netflix on June 7.