14 DAY TRIAL // After being married for 25 years, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are now separated, while they try to work out marital problems. Confirmation comes straight from the two stars.
PopEater notes that the joint statement was released to stop the rumors that had been making the rounds for weeks, after the media picked on the fact that Maria and Arnold were living in separate houses.
In the statement, the two confirm they are, in fact, separated; but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re also on their way to a divorce, they seem to be saying.
In fact, they’ve only taken some time apart to see whether their differences could be solved for their marriage to continue working as it did until now.
“This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us. After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together,” the statement reads.
“At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship,” Maria and Arnold say.
Even if they do decide divorce is the better option, the focus will still remain on their children and raising them together as a family.
This is the first and final statement the two plan to make – and they ask for privacy for the media while they deal with their personal problems.
“We are continuing to parent our four children together. They are the light and the center of both of our lives,” they say in the statement.
“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,” the two add.
Schwarzenegger (63) and Shriver (55) were married in 1986. This April, they celebrated their 25th anniversary. The two also have 4 children together, aged between 13 and 21.