Arnold Schwarzenegger admits fathering a child with member of household staff

Former Governor says he is 'truly sorry' for his actions

Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted fathering a child with a long-serving member of his household staff.
And while the 'event' happened more than 10 years ago, the former Governor of California only told his wife Maria Shriver about it earlier this year - leading to the couple's split.
It is believed the member of staff in question had worked for the Schwarzenegger family for more than 20 years, but retired in January.

Struggle: Schwarzenegger apologised for his actions and asked for privacy for his family

Admission: Arnold Schwarzenegger, seen here getting a hug from daughter Christina yesterday, has admitted fathering a child with a member of his household staff

In a statement released to the LA Times, Schwarzenegger, who has four children with Shriver, said: 'After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago.
'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 apologised to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.
'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.'

A source told TMZ.com that Shriver is 'completely distraught' over Schwarzenegger's revelation.
The member of staff in question has not been identified, but denied when contacted by the paper that Schwarzenegger was the father - adding it was her then-husband who fathered the child.

SCHWARZENEGGER: A BRIEF TIMELINE

1970 - Schwarzenegger is crowned Mr Olympia and makes his name as a strongman
1984 - Schwarzenegger gets his acting break in The Terminator

April 26, 1986 - Arnold Schwarzenegger marries Maria Shriver
1999 - Schwarzenegger announces he is thinking of running for office
October 7, 2003 - Schwarzenegger is elected Governor of California
January 2, 2011 - Schwarzenegger steps down as Governor of California
May 9, 2011 - Schwarzenegger and Shriver announce their split after 25 years of marriage
May 17, 2011 - Schwarzenegger apologises for fathering a child with a member of his household staff

However, when the LA Times approached the woman after Schwarzenegger's statement was released, she declined to comment further.
She said she voluntarily left her position with the couple 'on good terms'.
She said: 'I wanted to achieve my 20 years, then I asked to retire.'
According to a source, the paper claims that Schwarzenegger, 63, has always taken financial responsibility for the child.
The world was stunned earlier this month when Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced they had split after 25 years of marriage, with many questioning the reasons behind the break-up.
They released a statement which read: 'This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us.
'After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together.
'At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship.
‘We are continuing to parent our four children together. They are the light and the centre of both of our lives.
'We consider this a private matter and neither we nor any of our friends or family will have further comment. We ask for compassion and respect from the media and the public.’
Shriver then took to Twitter to thank her fans for their support after announcing the split, writing: 'Thank you all for the kindness, support and compassion. I am humbled by the love. Thank you.'
And, at an appearance last week at the Los Angeles' Skirball Cultural Center, Schwarzenegger suggested there was a chance of reconciliation.
He said: 'We both love each other very much. We are very fortunate that we have four extraordinary children and we're taking one day at a time.'

Family support: Schwarzenegger with his wife Maria and their children Katherine, Patrick, Christina and Christopher when he was returned to office

 

 

Picture of happiness: Schwarzenegger and Shriver married in a lavish ceremony on April 26, 1986 in Massachusetts

The couple married on April 26, 1986, in a lavish ceremony in Hyannis, Massachusetts, near the Kennedy family compound.
Shriver gave birth to their first child, Katherine, in 1989 and their second daughter, Christina in 1991. The births of Patrick and Christopher followed in 1993 and 1997.
Born in Chicago, Shriver is a member of America's Kennedy political dynasty.
The daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, she met her estranged husband In 1977 when they were introduced by former NBC News presenter Tom Brokaw at a charity tennis tournament.
Before Schwarzenegger became governor of California in 2003, Shriver was a superstar presenter for NBC News.
In the 1980s she co-anchored NBC News's Sunday Today and later became a contributing anchor on Dateline NBC in 1989.
Once her husband announced his plans to run for California's governorship, she took unpaid leave of absence from NBC News to support her husband's political aspirations.
Days before voters went to the polls in 2003, Schwarzenegger's campaign was rocked by the 'Gropegate' scandal - allegations from six women who said he had groped them on movie sets, in studio offices and in other settings over the past three decades, without their consent.
In a series of interviews with the Los Angeles Times, three of the women claimed Schwarzenegger grabbed their breasts, while a fourth said he reached under her skirt and touched her buttocks.
A fifth woman said Schwarzenegger groped her and tried to remove her bathing suit in a hotel elevator and a sixth accused him of pulling her onto his lap and asking if a certain sexual act had ever been performed on her.
However, the Times withheld the women's identities.
Schwarzenegger's campaign spokesman, Sean Walsh, immediately responded by saying the allegations were untrue, and insisted they were part of an effort to undermine the Republican candidate by his Democratic rivals.