18 May,2011 07:26 AM IST | | Agencies
Schwarzenegger's admission comes a week after he and wife Maria Shriver split up
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has acknowledged that he fathered a child with a member of his household staff, a revelation that apparently prompted wife Maria Shriver to leave the couple's home before they announced their separation last week.
Schwarzenegger and Shriver jointly announced May 9 that they were splitting up after 25 years of marriage.
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Yet, Shriver moved out of the family's Brentwood mansion earlier in the year after Schwarzenegger acknowledged the child is his, The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.
"After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," said Schwarzenegger.
"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," the statement concluded. "While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not."A spokesman for Shriver said she had no comment.
The former staffer worked for the family for 20 years and retired in January.
In an interview on Monday before Schwarzenegger issued his statement, the former staffer said another man her husband at the time was the child's father. When the Times later informed the woman of the governor's statement, she declined to comment further.
The child was born before Schwarzenegger began his seven-year stint in public office.
In his first public comments since the couple announced their breakup, Schwarzenegger said last week that he and Shriver "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," he said at a Los Angeles event. Their children range in age from 13 to 21.
Since his term as California governor ended in early January, Schwarzenegger (63) has hopscotched around the world, his wife nowhere in sight.
While the Terminator star appeared confident about the future since exiting politics, cutting movie deals and fashioning himself as a global spokesman for green energy, Shriver, known for her confidence, seemed unsettled.
