October 3, 2012
Schwarzenegger Performed 2 Gay Marriages as Calif. Governor
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Action movie star, former Republican governor of California and self-admitted horn dog Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted in an interview that he officiated at two same-sex marriages while he was in office, CNN reports.
The actor turned politician told Lesley Stahl during an interview for CBS' "60 Minutes" that he performed the nuptials of his chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, and her partner in the governor's office. He also presided over the marriage of a former aide and his partner at the governor's home, the Los Angeles Times notes.
The revelation may come to a surprise to some as the actor has said he believes in traditional marriage. But as governor, he opposed Proposition 8, the measure that bans gay marriage and was approved by state voters.
Schwarzenegger told Stahl that the ceremonies he performed occurred during the five months in 2008 when California recognized gay marriage.
He wasn't the only politician to officiate gay marriages, of course. Gavin Newsom, the current Lt. Gov. of California, also performed same-sex marriages at San Francisco City Hall while he was the city's mayor.
The "Predator" star has come under scrutiny for infidelities during his own marriage. In 2011, after he finished his second term as governor, it was announced that he and Maria Shriver were separated after 25 years of marriage after the revelation that the record-holding Mr. Olympia bodybuilder had fathered a son 14 years ago with his household's cleaning lady.
In the interview, Schwarzenegger said the infidelity was "the stupidest thing I've done in the whole relationship. I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria and unbelievable pain on the kids," he added.
Schwarzenegger, who is in the process of reinvigorating his film career, did the "60 Minutes" interview as part of a publicity campaign for his just-released autobiography, in which he admits to a series of extra-marital affairs.
