Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver Split!

Posted on May 10, 2011 @ 08:08AM

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By Amber Goodhand
Radar Staff Reporter

By Adam S. Levy
Radar Staff Writer

Yet another issue to divide the Donkeys and Elephants.

Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver have separated -- and she's already moved out!

"This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us," the couple said in a joint statement released Monday night.

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"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."

The high-profile couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary April 26, and have four children together, ranging in ages from 14 to 21.

"We are continuing to parent ... together. They are the light and the center 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," the statement continued. "We ask for compassion and respect from the media and the public."

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Schwarzenegger's spokesman Daniel Ketchell would not answer any further questions after presenting the statement.

The torn lovebirds were introduced to one another at a charity tennis tournament by Tom Brokaw in 1977. They married in 1986, and remained media darlings for their celebrity pedigrees: Schwarzenegger, the Pumping Iron bodybuilder-turned-A-list actor, and Shriver, the pretty NBC News star born into America's royal family, the Kennedy (her mother was the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver).

The political differences -- she, from the iconic Democratic Kennedy clan, and he -- a Republican -- always made for a kitschy contrast, similar to that of former Bill Clinton staffer James Carville and Republican politico Mary Matalin.

While no direct event has been linked to the end of the quarter-century marriage, Schwarzenegger has faced scrutiny in the past for alleged groping incidents that occurred between 1975 and 2000.

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Some of the accusations stemmed directly from the sets of films the Austrian-born actor had headlined, including Predator and Twins.

At the time the allegations surfaced, during his gubernatorial drive, the Terminator star called them a "mean-spirited" attempt to "derail [his] campaign."

Schwarzenegger, 63, finished up his two-term stint as California governor four months ago. His post-"Governator" plans include a return to acting, as he’s involved with a few films currently in the pre-production phase (The Last Stand and Cry Macho). He’s also been linked to ongoing work as a spokesman for green energy and a possible run at the presidency of European Union.

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Shriver, 55, alluded to life changes in a YouTube video this past March, saying, "As you know, transitions are not easy. I'd love to get your advice on how you've handled transitions in your own life.

"It's so stressful to not know what you're doing next," she said. "People ask you what are you doing and then they can't believe that you don't know what you're doing."

Stay with RadarOnline.com for more details in this story as they break.

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He looks embalmed; scamming all those millions from unsuspecting taxpayers and destroying Collieforneeya must have stressed him out, he should find a better plastic surgeon with all that money he has lol

by snowberries
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 11:04pm

She finally stopped being a doormat and turning a blind eye to his cheating. Way to show your children how to stand up for yourself Maria. Your family will help you thru this. You deserve so much more!

by TorontoPerezFan
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 11:38am

He is better off with out her she looks like a man anyway Good luck Arnold find a pretty one this time

by jenny59
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 11:09am

I really admire both of them. I hope they can save their marriage.

by Reader31
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:47am

I am sorry for any marriage that ends and what the children go through...life is hard and relationships are so important. I wish them luck

by earlybird
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 8:49am

there's not a house big enough to contain those two egos.

by BlogDog
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 7:50am

I think the most shocking part is that they lasted as long as they did. He has always been a womanizer and a republican she was a staunch democrat from a very democratic family how they lasted 25 years is a miracle to begin with.

by LadyBlue
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 7:35am

Arnie is a self-professed groper. That he went further than that I don't doubt at all. Maria knew what he was like when she married him. They both got what they wanted from the marriage. No sympathy except toward their kids.

by JC
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 2:48am

Arnie has said he wanted to go back to Goose-Stepper Land and run for European Parliament. Maria probably said she wasn't interested in moving to Austria.

by Arty Ziff
Posted Tue, 05/10/2011 - 2:26am