Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed the shocking moment when he “crushed” his ex-wife Maria Shriver’s heart — by revealing he was the father of their housekeeper Mildred Baena’s son, Joseph.
In the upcoming three-part Netflix documentary “Arnold,” the “Terminator” star, 75, said that Shriver, 67, confronted him in 2011 through their marriage counselor regarding his parentage, according to The Sun.
“She wants to know if you’re the father of Joseph,” the counselor said regarding Joseph, who was born in 1997.
“I thought my heart stopped,” said the former movie star. “And then I told the truth.
“Yes, Maria. Joseph is my son,” Schwarzenegger replied — noting that his then-wife “was obviously crushed by that.”
In the wake of his 1996 affair with Mildred, the “Predator” star claimed to believe that Joseph, now 25, was not actually his child due to the fact that his mother was still married to her husband at the time.
“In the beginning, I really didn’t know,” explained Schwarzenegger. “But the older he got, the more it became clear to me.
“It was then just a matter of, ‘How do you keep this quiet,'” he continued.
The Post has reached out to Schwarzenegger for comment.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are shown together at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. WireImage
Arnold Schwarzenegger is shown with his son, Joseph Baena, in a photo from the latter’s Instagram account.joebaena/InstagramAfter the “True Lies” actor — who has children Katherine, 33, Christina, 31, Patrick, 29, and Christopher, 25, with Shriver — came clean about the affair, the couple ended their marriage after nearly 20 years together.
“[The divorce] was very, very difficult in the beginning,” Schwarzenegger told The Hollywood Reporter in April. “Eventually, you move on … She and I are really good friends and very close, and we are very proud of the way we raised our kids.”
According to the actor, the affair with Mildred was his biggest “failure.”
“I have caused enough pain for my family, because of my f–k up,” said the star. “Everyone had to suffer.”
“Maria had to suffer, the kids had to suffer, Joseph, his mother, everyone,” continued Schwarzenegger. “I’m going to have to live with that for the rest of my life.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger poses with Mildred Baena in 2001.BACKGRID
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver were married in April 1986.Bettmann
Joseph Baena is pictured with his mother, Mildred, in this undated photo.SplashNews.comSchwarzenegger joked last month that both he and Shriver, who have remained on good terms since their divorce was finalized in 2021, should win an Oscar for doing “everything together” and giving their four kids the “least amount of impact.”
Despite having a close relationship with his father, it is reported that Joseph does not have any relationship with his half-siblings.
Since ending things with her husband, Shriver said that she has re-evaluated “every aspect” of her life.
Joseph Baena was born in 1997.joebaena/Instagram
Schwarzenegger said then-wife Shriver “was obviously crushed” by his reveal.Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are shown in the more carefree, early days of their relationship in 1979.Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images “[I asked myself], ‘What was my role? What could I do better? What had I done that put me in that place?’” she said on a February episode of the “Making Space” podcast. “I did everything that was available that I could find to myself.”
“Arnold” is set to be released to Netflix on Wednesday, June 7.
