Arnold Schwarzenegger has apologised for his behaviour with regards to women, admitting to stepping 'over the line' and adding that he had done so 'several times'.
In a recent interview with Men's Health, the Terminator actor was asked about an incident back in 2003, during his campaign to run for governor of California, when he was accused of inappropriate behaviour.
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At the time, several women claimed they had been touched inappropriately by Schwarzenegger. He has now responded to the accusations, telling MH: "Looking back, I stepped over the line several times, and I was the first one to say sorry. I feel bad about it, and I apologise."
The 71-year-old explained he made steps, upon his appointment as governor, to make sure these actions weren't ever repeated.
He said: "When I became governor, I wanted to make sure that no one, including me, ever makes this mistake. That's why we took sexual harassment courses, to have a clear understanding, from a legal point of view and also from a regular-behavior point of view, of what is accepted and what is not."
According to reports from 2003, in the LA Times, the accusations against Schwarzenegger dated back to the 1970s - three women had accused him of causing them discomfort when he grabbed their breasts, while another woman said he'd reached under her skirt and yet another said he'd tried to remove her bathing suit in a hotel elevator.
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But despite these past allegations - for which he was not charged - in his interview he continued to say he 'always had respect for women', adding that his views on masculinity had not changed.
He said: "I've not changed my view. I'm a guy. I would not change my view of who I am. The woman I was originally most in love with was my mother. I respected her, and she was a fantastic woman. I always had respect for women."
The actor is a father of five and added that even with all his success in film and politics, being a father is 'the greatest joy'.
Schwarzenegger told MH: "Fatherhood is really the greatest joy. Watching all five of my kids grow into their own successful lives is fantastic. Spending time with them, working out together, answering their questions makes me so happy.
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"They were also all there for me after my surgery, so you start to realise, 'Wow, they are really growing up and now it's not just me pumping them up.' We are all pumping each other up."
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