Arnold Schwarzenegger Reflects on the Difficult Moment He Confessed to Maria Shriver about His Illegitimate Child with Their Housekeeper in New Netflix Docuseries

In an upcoming Netflix docuseries titled Arnold, Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up about various aspects of his life, including his career, political tenure as California governor, and personal scandals.

One particular moment he reflects on is when he confessed to his then-wife Maria Shriver and their children about his affair with their housekeeper, Mildred Baena, which resulted in the birth of his son, Joseph Baena, now 25.

Schwarzenegger recalls attending counseling sessions with Maria once a week, and during one of these sessions, the counselor indicated that Maria wanted specific information; she wanted to know if Schwarzenegger was Joseph's father.

Hearing this, Schwarzenegger felt his heart skip a beat, but he decided to tell the truth.

He admitted, “‘Yes, Maria, Joseph is my son.'”

He remembers Maria being devastated by the revelation.

Reflecting on the affair, Schwarzenegger admits that initially, he was unaware of Joseph's paternity but gradually became more certain as Joseph grew older.

The challenge for him was how to keep the affair a secret and maintain discretion.

Schwarzenegger acknowledges that discussing this topic is difficult for him as it reopens old wounds.

He recognizes the pain he caused his family due to his mistakes, emphasizing that everyone suffered, including Maria, their children, Joseph, and Joseph's mother.

In the Netflix docuseries, Schwarzenegger expresses remorse, stating that he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

He acknowledges that people will remember both his successes and failures, and this affair represents a significant failure—one that differs from the setbacks he experienced in his career.

Despite the affair, Schwarzenegger highlights his love and pride for his son Joseph, describing him as a fantastic individual.

He emphasizes that Joseph is welcomed in this world, despite the wrongness of his actions.

Schwarzenegger states, “I love him, and he has turned out to be an extraordinary young man.”

Schwarzenegger also speaks positively about his relationship with Maria Shriver, even after their separation.

While their divorce was challenging initially, he expresses contentment with his current girlfriend, Heather Milligan, and describes his relationship with Maria as that of good friends who are proud of their successful parenting.

They continue to celebrate special occasions together as a family, although they are no longer under one roof.

The couple announced their separation in May 2011, and shortly after, Schwarzenegger publicly apologized for the affair in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.

In that interview, he took full responsibility for the hurt he caused and expressed remorse to Maria, their children, and other loved ones.

Despite the difficult divorce, Schwarzenegger states that he does not miss being married and is proud of how minimal the impact of the separation has been on their children.

In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Maria Shriver shared her own perspective on their breakup.

She revealed seeking advice at a convent to gain insight into her life after the marriage ended.

After ten years of separation, Schwarzenegger and Shriver finalized their divorce in December 2021.

The Netflix docuseries Arnold will begin streaming on June 7, allowing viewers to gain a deeper understanding of Arnold Schwarzenegger's personal journey, including the challenges and mistakes he has faced along the way.