Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man who has had a storied and controversial career. As a former bodybuilding champion, actor, and governor of California, he has been involved in several scandals related to sexual misconduct and cheating. Schwarzenegger’s career has spanned several decades, during which he became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures.
The Austrian-American actor began his career as a bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Olympia title seven times. He then started acting, starring in blockbuster films like The Terminator and Predator. In 2003, he became the Governor of California, serving until 2011. Throughout his career, he has been admired for his physical strength and charisma but criticized for his behavior toward women.
Governor of California Calling His Opponents “Girlie Men”
In a recent interview with Men’s Health, he expressed remorse for his past behavior towards women and acknowledged that he had “stepped over the line several times.” He also regretted calling his political opponents “girlie men” and said it was shortsighted to do so.
“Looking back, I stepped over the line several times, and I was the first one to say sorry. I feel bad about it, and I apologize,”
In 2003, just before the recall election in California that led to his election as governor, there were reports that Schwarzenegger had groped several women over the past 30 years.
Suggested Article: Disney Reportedly Selling its Content To Third Party Publishers Out of Utter Desperation Following MCU Phase 4 Seemingly Sinking Marvel in Gargantuan Operational Losses
In the same interview with Men’s Health, the Terminator actor reiterated his remorse for his past behavior. He stated that he had taken sexual harassment courses to ensure that he and others on his team did not repeat the same mistakes.
The #MeToo movement, which began in 2017 and sought to raise awareness about consent and curb sexual misconduct, profoundly impacted the society. In his interview, Schwarzenegger acknowledged that he, too, was affected by the movement and recognized the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions.
According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he became governor, he “wanted to ensure that no one,” including himself, would ever make the mistake of sexual harassment. That is why they “took sexual harassment courses…”:
“When I became governor, I wanted to make sure that no one, including me, ever makes this mistake. That’s why we took sexual harassment courses, to have a clear understanding, from a legal point of view and also from a regular-behavior point of view, of what is accepted and what is not.”
Schwarzenegger’s willingness to take responsibility for his actions is a positive step forward. However, at 71, the actor still has some big regrets he wishes he could undo.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Big Words, Big Regrets
Schwarzenegger regretted calling his political opponents “girlie men” during his time as governor. He stated that he had improvised the comment because it “felt like the right thing to do” at the time but was shortsighted on his part.
“At the time it felt like the right thing to do. It was in my gut. I improvised it. I called them girlie men because they weren’t willing to take risks. They were afraid of everything. Politicians in general want to do little things so there’s no risk involved. But it was shortsighted. In the long term, it’s better to not say that, because you want to work with them.”
Despite his past mistakes, Arnold Schwarzenegger has not changed his view of masculinity and stated that he respects women. He noted that the woman he was originally most in love with was his mother, whom he had great respect for. In recent years, Arnold Schwarzenegger has also enjoyed spending time with his five children, working with them, and watching them grow into successful adults.
Source: Men’s Health
