Terminated: A political power couple is calling it quits. Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver have confirmed that they are throwing in the towel after a quarter century of marriage.
Totally didn’t see that one coming.
Arnold and Maria were introduced by veteran journalist Tom Brokaw during a charity event hosted by Shriver’s mother — Eunice Kennedy Shriver — all the way back in 1977. The couple dated for several years before tying the knot in at the Kennedy Compound in Shriver’s native Massachusetts on April 26, 1986. Shriver gave birth to their first child, Katherine, in 1989 and their second daughter, Christina in 1991. The births of Patrick and Christopher followed in 1993 and 1997.
“This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us,” the couple said in a joint statement received by The Los Angeles Times early Wednesday. “After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship. We are continuing to parent our four children together. They are the light and the centre of both of our lives. We consider this a private matter and neither we nor any of our friends or family will have further comment. We ask for compassion and respect from the media and the public.”
Shriver, the 55-year-old ex-NBC correspondent , has moved out of the couple’s mansion in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles just one week after the Austrian-born former bodybuilder launched his return to showbusiness. The Arnold, 63, is shopping plans for a Governator comic book and animated TV show and has been cast in the upcoming box office comedy Cry Macho.
