Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Checkered Past of Accusations and Denials

Controversial accusations are nothing new for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Given his history, it's no surprise that his past responses to allegations of affairs and inappropriate behavior are now under renewed scrutiny.

Back in 2003, while campaigning for governor of California, the Los Angeles Times conducted an interview with six women who claimed that Schwarzenegger had touched them inappropriately without their consent.

This scandal became known as “Gropegate.”

According to the Times, three of the women recounted instances where Schwarzenegger grabbed their bre-sts, while a fourth woman stated that he reached under her skirt and gripped her buttocks.

Another woman alleged that Schwarzenegger groped her and tried to remove her bathing suit in a hotel elevator.

And finally, a sixth woman said Schwarzenegger pulled her onto his lap and asked about a specific s**ual act.

In response to these allegations, Schwarzenegger admitted to behaving poorly at times during a campaign event.

During an appearance on ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, he claimed he couldn't recall incidents from 20 or 15 years ago.

However, he did acknowledge that some of the described actions sounded like something he might do.

He apologized if anyone was offended, stating it was not his intention.

Although he didn't outright deny the incidents, Schwarzenegger attempted to downplay them.

His strategy seemed effective, as he was elected in California's 2003 recall election, replacing then-Gov.

Gray Davis.

Yet, this did not put an end to further accusations.

In 2005, the L.A. Times published a front-page story revealing that American Media, the tabloid publisher of National Enquirer, Globe, and Star, paid actress Gigi Goyette $20,000 to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Schwarzenegger shortly after he announced his 2003 candidacy.

Schwarzenegger's spokesperson denied the governor's knowledge of the deal, and American Media declined to comment.

Although the Enquirer had previously released a story about the alleged affair in 2001, after purchasing exclusive rights to Goyette's story in 2003, American Media's publications did not pursue the matter further.

Schwarzenegger's recent admission of an affair does not definitively prove his involvement with Goyette or confirm all the allegations from Gropegate.

However, it does lend credibility to those who have long suspected him of pursuing inappropriate relationships with women.

The public's reaction to this news could pose challenges for Schwarzenegger as he attempts to rebrand himself as a comedic and animated hero.

Nevertheless, it would be unwise to assume that Schwarzenegger, the man who famously promised to always come back, won't bounce back from this latest revelation.