From the outside looking in, it’s hard to tell what really triggered the breakup of the 25 year high-profile union between Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
It was always an unlikely match, she of the family that is the closest thing we have to American royalty, he of the drug-drenched bodybuilding world who immediately climbed many steps up the ladder to mainstream legitimacy with their union.
Some speculated Maria liked bad boys– a not so uncommon trait among women–and this was her way of rebelling against the expectations of the Kennedy clan.
And Arnold certainly was a bad boy, one who parlayed his outsized personality to movie superstardom and fame probably beyond his wildest, ambitious dreams. As they made their life together, and four children came along, Maria pushed aside much of her career to stand by her man, in the Kennedy tradition.
Also in the male tradition of the family he married into, Arnold apparently had a huge womanizing problem, which came to the fore publicly when he tossed his hat in the ring to become the governor of California. Up against allegations from many women that they were groped or otherwise sexually harassed on Schwarzenegger movie sets, Arnold apologized for his transgressions and Maria stood firm in her support–and the rest is California history.
With his two terms over, the aging superstar seemed to be groping around with what to do next. A cartoon show. Traveling with his buddies. And so did Maria, who has successfully spearheaded an influential women’s conference over the past few years, even expressing her concerns about the transition in her life from her successful run as Cali’s First Lady.
Word is, she moved out of their Brentwood home several weeks ago, and who’s to know exactly what was the tipping point. Perhaps emerging from the grief of her parents’ deaths and realizing she was not getting the love she needed in their marriage? Arnold certainly seem to negate her when he mentioned that she didn’t even know yet about a deal he was about to sign.
Always extremely conscious of his own personal PR and media coverage, now Schwarzenegger is publicly making statements that imply he’s trying to work things out with Maria.
Speaking to a crowd at an Israeli Independence Day event in Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger said that he and Shriver are taking their relationship “one day at a time.”
Skating around any real issues, but saying just enough to show he cared, Schwarzenegger said: “I just spoke to Maria an hour ago before I came here, and we both were saying the same thing; we are amazed and extremely blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people and so many wonderful friends. We both love each other very much, and we are very fortunate that we have four extraordinary children. And we are taking one day at a time.”
Behind the scenes, we are sensing heartbreak. It’s sad to see this relationship crumbling, especially after both parties, at least publicly, seemed to make it work. Each was an inspirational figure to many, and together, they were an ultimate and unique power couple.
But we have no doubt that should their marriage definitively end, Maria will emerge stronger than ever–and she’ll get a lot of support along the way.
