During his appearance on the red carpet with his kids, Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed the distance that existed between his lovechild and Maria Shriver’s kids.
The link between the actor’s kids was apparently clarified.
Arnold frequently discussed the treatment of Joseph, the son he had with his former domestic, who looked much like him.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75, appeared on the red carpet in May 2023 with his kids by his side. With the former’s husband, Chris Pratt, beside her, his daughters Katherine, 33, and Christina, 31, encircled their father.
The family attended Arnold’s new show, “FUBAR,” premiere in support of him. The odd thing was that Joseph “Joe” Baena, 25, his illegitimate son who looks like him and came out to support his father, was pictured on the red carpet by himself.
Arnold was devoted to each of his five children. Christina and Katherine were two of the four children he had during his marriage to Maria Shriver. Joe was their half-sibling at the same time because of his relationship with Mildred Baena, their previous housekeeper.
Based on the pictures, it appeared that the actor’s older kids had no interest in spending time with his love child. Like his well-known father, Joe is a bodybuilder, and he posted a photo of himself by himself from the Netflix premiere.
Arnold was devoted to each of his five children. Christina and Katherine were two of the four children he had during his marriage to Maria Shriver. Joe was their half-sibling at the same time because of his relationship with Mildred Baena, their previous housekeeper.
Based on the pictures, it appeared that the actor’s older kids had no interest in spending time with his love child. Like his well-known father, Joe is a bodybuilder, and he posted a photo of himself by himself from the Netflix premiere.
The person encouraged Joe to use the snub as leverage, speculating that it might be the result of “racial hostility.” The follower took issue with Joe’s siblings attending the same premiere, posing for a group shot, and ignoring him completely.
While some thought it was unfortunate to witness the split, others were happy that Arnold loved his kids just as much. But because Joe was following in the actor’s footsteps professionally, one fan thought the star liked him a “little more,” while another said:
Arnold’s real legacy is Joe, and his affluent, slothful children are obviously bitter. Joe, keep on trucking.
Someone else said that they began following Joe on Instagram in order to offer him the assistance that his “snobby siblings choose not to” give. The fan believed that because he worked hard in his training, avoided using his father’s last name, got a job, and supported and looked up to Arnold, he was a great role model for others.
The person thought Joe was a model son. Another disciple said that the young man was wonderful and that Katharine, who identified as a “Christian,” ought not to have treated him in such a manner since it was not “Christlike,” adding:
“She is a shame.”
Joe, according to an Instagram user, was the perfect young replica of his father and was “so loved.” The person told Arnold’s son to keep his chin up and ask God to bless him because they could see how jealous people might be.
One admirer said that Joe was a wonderful man and that it was a “shame” that his siblings had treated him badly because of things outside of his control. The celebrity’s son neither removed nor replied to any of the comments.
In “FUBAR,” where he played an almost-retired CIA agent, Monica Barbaro played Arnold’s daughter. Joe said on the red carpet that he thought it was “cute” to watch his father acting like a parent and that he enjoyed it.
The famous person’s son revealed that his father instilled in him the value of consistently practicing and putting in “the reps.” In 2023, Joe was scheduled to star with Morgan Freeman in the action movie “Gunner.”
What kind of relationship does Joe have with the children that Arnold and Shriver had?
A source claims that Joe wasn’t loved by Arnold’s children with Shriver. The young man who had a run on “Dancing with the Stars” was a lovely kid, and the actor always treated him equally with his other kids, so the insider thought it was unfortunate.
But it’s said that Joe was chastised by Arnold’s other children for their father’s extramarital affair. Witnesses claim that after the Los Angeles premiere of “FUBAR,” Shriver’s unmarried child stayed behind at the after-party while her children returned home.
The insider revealed how close the “Terminator” actor was to Joe and how he’d taken him to a number of functions. The insider believed that although the “snubbing” wasn’t fair, it made sense because he was the result of something that shouldn’t have happened.
The celebrity’s other children, according to a different insider, handled the affair with dignity and respect. But according to a family employee, Patrick, 29, and Christopher, 25, were closer to Joe than Katherine and Christina, who had no relationship with him.
Eight years later, according to a source, everyone was still figuring out how to get over the nightmare, even though they had done a good job creating a new normal. It was revealed by another person that the family was attempting to build a private relationship with Joe prior to going public.
It was said that Joe longed for a relationship with his half-siblings. Katherine posted pictures of herself with her three siblings on Instagram on April 10, 2023, National Siblings Day, expressing her love for them.
She was swiftly criticized by her followers for shunning Joe, even though he made the extra effort to like and follow their social media posts. The person said that, with the exception of Joe’s photos, Arnold’s kids enjoyed his photos.
Joe grew up with his brothers and visited their Pacific Palisades residence from 1986 to 2003, so the supposed snub was peculiar. Someone who was acquainted with Katharine believed that since their father had concealed who he was for many years, there was no justification for her to be friends with her half-brother.
Katherine’s family was devastated, humiliated, and ruined by the affair, so the source couldn’t hold it against her for refusing to accept the “living reminder” of it. Without Joe, Shriver’s kids also observed significant occasions.
Without Joe, Patrick’s parents and siblings got together to celebrate his birthday in September 2021. The previous year, on his birthday, Christopher was joined by Arnold, Shriver, and several of his siblings—all but his half-brother—at home.
Patrick posted an Instagram photo of his father’s birthday in August 2020, however it did not include his son who was born out of wedlock. Arnold supposedly liked Joe so much that he wanted to involve him in one of his businesses, despite the fact that he wasn’t shown in family photos.
How Does Joe, Arnold’s Son, Get Treated?
Joe has developed a close bond with the actor since learning that Arnold is his father. The celebrity kept Joe’s father identity a secret for fifteen years until 2011, when Mildred said her son’s father was Rogelio Baena, her ex-husband.
When Joe began to resemble Arnold, Shriver became concerned and questioned Mildred, who sobbed as she revealed the truth. After the actress persuaded the housekeeper to delay her resignation, the couple’s 25-year marriage came to an end when she confronted Arnold during their counseling sessions.
Arnold acknowledged in 2015 that the entire ordeal had been difficult for him, his kids, and his family. But it had occurred, and now they had to work it out, which meant he had to mentor Joe.
Joe posted workout-related photos and videos on Instagram on a regular basis. According to a family source, the young man trained with the star at Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles because he looked up to him and aspired to be just like him.
It is said that Arnold desired to involve his son in his sports competition, The Arnold Classic Worldwide. Although a different source refuted Joe’s plans to join his father’s company, the celebrity was thrilled that all of his kids shared his interests, which included physical fitness.
The famous person funded his son’s education at Pepperdine University and proudly displayed him upon receiving his business degree in April 2019. When the celebrity declared his love for Joe, Joe responded by expressing his own love for his father.
But his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was pleased and proud of him and his dancing, Joseph “Joe” Baena.
The father-son team made an appearance at a restaurant honoring Arnold’s birthday in July 2021. Joe was born on October 2, 1997, and until he turned seven or eight years old and began to resemble his father, his paternity remained concealed.
In 2012, Arnold disclosed that he became aware the boy was his offspring as he began to bear similarities to him. Joe revealed in 2022 how close they had grown, laughing and talking about anything, even though it had taken some time.
The star’s son referred to him as the best training partner when the two started going to the gym together and he started to mimic some of his father’s well-known muscle poses on Instagram. Arnold happily posted three pictures of them together on Twitter when he turned 24 in 2021.
In addition to bodybuilding and real estate sales, Joe was an actor, and his debut film, “Bully High,” will be released in 2021. Joe claimed that his father wouldn’t participate in “Dancing With the Stars” unless Daniella Karagach was also his dance partner.
But his father was pleased with him and his dancing. He declared his admiration for Arnold, calling him the smartest and most ideal man he could come up with, and stated it was incredible to be compared to him.
I Asked Homeless Man to Be My Pretend Fiancé Only to Discover He Was Part of My Mother’s Secret Past — Story of the Day
I was tired of my family’s endless questions about my love life, so I had a wild plan. I found and brought a homeless man as my pretend fiancé to the holiday dinner. Everything seemed perfect until my mother’s reaction revealed a shocking connection between them.
I sat in my car, staring at the park entrance, dreading the upcoming weekend with my family. Every holiday visit was the same: my mom’s subtle looks, my dad’s hopeful smiles, and the never-ending barrage of questions.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
When are you getting married? Have you met someone?
It was exhausting, and the thought of another round of it was more than I could handle.
Suddenly, my eyes fell on a man sitting alone on a bench, huddled in a tattered coat. He looked worn out like life had handed him more than his share of troubles. His sad eyes and the deep lines on his face still made him look like a handsome man. That’s when it hit me. Crazy idea!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Could he be my fiancé for the weekend?” I muttered to myself.
It was insane, but it could work. Anything to keep my family off my back. I got out of the car and walked over to him. He looked up, and we stared at each other.
“Hey,” I started, feeling awkward. “I know this is going to sound strange, but… would you be willing to pretend to be my fiancé? Just for a weekend. In return, I can offer you a warm place to stay, new clothes, and a nice meal.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For a moment, he said nothing. His gaze lingered on mine as if he were trying to understand why someone like me would make such an offer. Then, to my surprise, he nodded slowly.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
I was shocked at how easily he agreed. No questions. No hesitation. That made me a little nervous. But at that point, I didn’t care.
“Great,” I said. “Let’s get you ready for the weekend.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
After we got back home, I handed the stranger some clothes that belonged to my ex. His things were still in my closet, and honestly, I couldn’t think of a better use for them.
“Here, these should fit you,” I said, offering a clean shirt and jeans. “You can take a shower if you’d like. I’ll make us some dinner.”
“Well, thanks,” he said with a small smile. “A shower sounds amazing.”
As he headed into the bathroom, I kept myself busy chopping vegetables and trying to ignore the nervousness building up inside me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Sharing my home with a stranger… Mia, what are you doing? You still don’t know his name!
When the stranger emerged from the bathroom, I heard the door creak and turned around. He stood there, a towel slung over his shoulder, his hair still damp, and to my surprise, he looked completely different.
“Well, that’s the best shower I’ve had in years,” he joked.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
The awkwardness I’d felt earlier seemed to vanish in an instant.
“Glad to hear it. I hope the dinner will be just as good.”
He glanced at the table, eyeing the plates I’d set out. “Smells incredible. I am Christopher, by the way.” He smiled at me, sitting down at the table.
Feeling a bit shy, I only replied, “Mia.”
As we sat down to eat, he took the first bite and nodded. “It’s perfect. Haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a long time.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
We ate in comfortable silence for a bit, and then the conversation started flowing naturally.
“So,” I said, breaking the quiet. “Any favorite movies or books?”
He thought for a moment before answering. “I always loved old westerns. And books? Probably The Old Man and the Sea. Simple, but there’s something about it.”
“Really? Hemingway? I wouldn’t have guessed,” I said, a little surprised. “I thought you’d go for something darker.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
He chuckled. “You’re not wrong, but sometimes, simple stories hit the hardest.”
“I get that.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking about random topics that made us laugh. He had a dry sense of humor that caught me off guard, and by the end of dinner, I felt surprisingly comfortable around him.
Late in the evening, I went back into the kitchen to grab a glass of water before bed. I noticed the dishes had already been washed and stacked neatly by the sink.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Did you… do the dishes?” I asked Christopher, peeking around the corner.
“Seemed like the least I could do.”
I smiled, genuinely touched by the gesture. “Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“Good night, Christopher.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The next day, everything moved quickly. We had one day left before the weekend with my family, and there was still so much to do.
First, we went to the hair salon. As the stylist worked, Christopher sat quietly, letting the transformation happen. I watched in amazement as his shaggy hair was trimmed into something neat and polished.
“This feels weird,” he muttered, looking at himself in the mirror.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Good weird or bad weird?” I teased.
“Definitely good,” he said with a smirk.
By the time we hit the shops to pick out new clothes, he was starting to look like a completely different person.
***
The holiday dinner started well enough. My parents were delighted to see Christopher, and I could almost feel my mother’s pride as she glanced at me, finally quieting her usual questions about my personal life.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Christopher played his part perfectly—polite, attentive, and even charming when he spoke. I began to relax, thinking that maybe my crazy plan had worked.
“Christopher, right?” my mother asked, smiling brightly. “You look so familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before? On TV, maybe?”
She laughed lightly as if she had just made a harmless joke.
Christopher politely shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe I just have one of those faces.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My father chuckled, clearly amused by my mother’s playful banter. “Well, if you’re on TV, I’ll have to start watching more closely.”
“So, Christopher,” Mom continued, “what did you do before you met Mia? Business, right?”
Christopher paused, glancing at my mother a bit too long before answering.
“Yes, business,” he said quietly, but there was something in his tone that felt different. “But everything changed for me about five years ago.”
My heart skipped a beat.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Wait… This isn’t part of the plan.
I shot him a quick look, hoping he’d catch on, but he continued. “There was an accident. A car accident. It… changed my life completely.”
This definitely isn’t something we talked about.
My mother’s face went pale, her fingers clenched the tablecloth, knuckles turning white. Her expression darkened as if she had just pieced something together.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“A car accident?” she echoed. Her words had sucked the warmth out of the room. “That’s… unfortunate.”
My father glanced at her. “Olivia, are you okay?”
But she wasn’t listening to him. “Not everyone walks away from accidents unscathed, do they?”
Christopher didn’t flinch, quietly sipping his wine.
“He’s not the kind of man you need,” Mom said bluntly, her voice trembling with anger.
I was taken aback. My father’s eyes widened in shock, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Christopher calmly set his glass down. “Excuse me. I’ll step outside for a moment.”
As he left, I turned to my mother. “What was that about? He didn’t do anything wrong!”
“There’s something you need to know, Mia. Five years ago, I was in a car accident,” she began, her voice lowering as though she were afraid someone else might hear.
“It was late at night, outside the city. There were no witnesses. The man I hit… was Christopher.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My heart dropped. “What?”
“Your Christopher,” she said bitterly, “was under the influence that night. I demanded he get tested, but he refused. No one saw what happened, so I chose not to take him to court. But Mia, you need to understand… He’s dangerous. You can’t trust him.”
Christopher? Under the influence?
Finally, I broke the silence. “I need to talk to him.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
Christopher was leaning against the fence, staring off into the night. His expression was calm, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.
“Christopher,” I called softly.
He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. “My last name is Hartman. Yes, I was in that accident. I was on sedatives that night—prescribed for my anxiety after my wife died. I was driving carefully.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, simple ring.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You’re the first woman I’ve met since my wife’s death that I’ve wanted to leave something with. This was hers. Thank you for dinner, Mia. It was… more than I deserved.”
He handed me the ring, then nodded slightly before walking away.
“Wait,” I whispered, but the words got lost in the cold night air.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the ring in my hand. When I walked back inside, my mother was waiting.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You didn’t tell me the whole truth, did you?” I demanded.
She sighed. “No. I didn’t. I was driving too fast that night. I… I was scared, Mia.”
“Is he worth chasing?”
The look in her eyes said it all. Yes. But it was already too late.
***
I couldn’t stop thinking about Christopher. His story, the accident, the weight he carried. It haunted me.
I placed an ad in the local paper, something simple but direct:
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Christopher Hartman, if you see this, please meet me at the restaurant where we last had dinner. I eat there every evening. Mia.”
I felt a little foolish, not knowing if he’d ever read it or if he even wanted to see me again. But I had to try. There was too much left unsaid.
***
The day after placing the ad, I arrived at the restaurant early. As the minutes ticked by, doubt started creeping in.
Maybe he didn’t see it. Maybe he didn’t want to.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
But then, just as I was about to give up, the door opened. Christopher stepped in, scanning the room until they landed on me. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he walked over.
“I saw your ad,” he said, sitting down across from me.
We locked eyes for a moment before I spoke. “There’s so much I need to tell you. I found out about your past… about the accident… My mother finally admitted she was at fault, too. And…. she took your money!”
“I didn’t want to blame anyone. After my wife died… nothing mattered.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
We sat in silence for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle between us.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You don’t have to be,” he said, his voice soft. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know, but still… I want to help. My mother wants to make things right. She’s returning what she took from you.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking. It wasn’t about pretending anymore. It was real. By the end of the night, I realized something. I had fallen in love with Christopher. And the best part? He felt the same.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
Leave a Reply