Tomorrow (Wednesday), the new documentary series "Arnold" will be launched on Netflix, which gives a glimpse and "examines the personal and professional life of Arnold Schwarzenegger" - one of the biggest and most beloved action movie stars of all time. Over the years, however, allegations have been made about Schwarzenegger's treatment of women, which has often been deemed inappropriate.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in the series Fubar, photo: courtesy of Netflix Israel
In fact, in 2003, five days before California's gubernatorial election, the Los Angeles Times published an investigative story accusing the Austrian-American bodybuilder of humiliating, cuddling and "groping" six women in various incidents that took place on movie sets over three decades.
Schwarzenegger, who is known to have won the election, initially denied the allegations but eventually issued an apology in which he admitted he had behaved "badly" on set and did "inappropriate things that I thought at the time were naughty," he said.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Photo: AP
Now, exactly thirty years after that softened apology and in his new series, Schwarzenegger takes the accusations (and the evasion attempt) straightforward and serious – and takes full responsibility for the incidents. "My reaction at first... I was a little defensive," says the star, who turns 76 next month. "When I look at things today, I can say that it doesn't matter what time we live in, and it doesn't matter if it was the period of 'muscle beach' (a beach in California where bodybuilders train; D.P.) of 40 years ago or today - it was unacceptable. Forget all the excuses – it was unacceptable," he states unequivocally.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Photo by GettyImages
Perhaps to repent of sin, the new series even features Carla Hall, one of the journalists who signed on to the Times investigation. "Personally, I was surprised that the article didn't have a greater impact on the election. I thought more people would be hurt by her," Hall says in "Arnold," which also includes interviews with Sylvester Stallone, director James Cameron (who directed Schwarzenegger in the first two "Terminator" films and "True Lies"), and other significant figures from the star's life, who undoubtedly uses the series to do some soul-searching.
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