LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: An emotionally charged three-part Netflix docuseries titled 'Arnold' — which premiered on June 7 — traces Arnold Schwarzenegger's remarkable journey from athlete to actor to American politician. Delving into both his professional and personal life, the series captivates audiences with untold stories, including the tumultuous period when Schwarzenegger's marriage to Maria Shriver unraveled due to his extramarital affair and the subsequent reveal of a secret son.
'She politely declined'
During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, filmmaker Lesley Chilcott shed light on the absence of Maria Shriver in the documentary. Chilcott confirmed that she engaged in multiple conversations with Shriver during the production process, but ultimately, Shriver "politely declined" the invitation to participate. Chilcott said, "We did talk, we talked a few times," and when asked about Shriver's participation, she explained, "She politely declined."
Notably, Schwarzenegger and Shriver's four children — Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher — also did not contribute to the series, apart from Christina's brief on-camera appearance filmed at Schwarzenegger's Los Angeles residence. Chilcott confirmed that the children did not participate in the documentary.
'Love child' Joseph Baena makes an appearance in docuseries
However, viewers do catch a glimpse of Joseph Baena, Schwarzenegger's son with the family's former housekeeper, Mildred "Patty" Baena. Joseph was born in 1996 while he was still married to Shriver. Towards the conclusion of the final episode, Joseph appears alongside his father, engaging in a workout session at the gym. Although Joseph remains silent on camera, his presence adds an intriguing dimension to the narrative.
Chilcott revealed, "It's difficult for him [Schwarzenegger] to talk about the affair because he cannot talk about it without someone's feelings getting hurt. That was a pretty grave transgression... After we talked about it, there wasn't much else we could do that day. I don't believe he intends to talk about this subject anymore." Chilcott further explained Schwarzenegger's emotional state, saying, "He was emotionally spent after that interview."
Schwarzenegger was hesitant to 'revisit' scandal
In the docuseries, Schwarzenegger himself acknowledges his hesitancy to revisit the scandal, stating, "I think that I have caused enough pain for my family because of my f**k up. Because of that, everyone had to suffer, Maria had to suffer, the kids had to suffer, Joseph, his mother, everyone." He further reflects, "I am going to have to live with it the rest of my life. People will remember my successes and they will also remember my failures. This is a major failure. I had failures in the past in my career, but this is a whole different ball game, dimension of failure."
Additionally, the series uncovers an unexpected anecdote from Schwarzenegger's first encounter with Shriver's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Schwarzenegger humorously recalls, "I said, 'Well, your daughter has a really nice ass.' I have to tell you that," adding, "Eunice said, 'Thank you,' and then she walked away, kind of like, 'What the hell.'" Reflecting on the incident, Schwarzenegger added with a laugh, "It was a stupid thing to say. I don't know why I said it. I think it was the first thing that came to my mind."
