Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the face of bodybuilding, but when he was younger and still aspiring to become a champion, his mother did not exactly approve of his motivational methods.
People usually create what we call “mood boards” to help them visualize their goals, and that’s what Schwarzenegger did in his early years. He plastered images of bodybuilders, wrestlers, and boxers onto his bedroom wall, and this gallery of male posters gave his mother a bit of a shock. She thought her son was gay.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Broke His Mother’s Heart With His Shrine Of Male Posters
Speaking at the Academy Museum of Motion Picture theater in Los Angeles, the Terminator Genisys star Arnold Schwarzenegger shared to the audience how his mother reacted upon seeing his wall adorned with masculine images:
“My mother was always looking at that wall, and she said, ‘All of your friends have pictures of girls. Where did I go wrong?’ And she would cry. She was in front of the wall crying every day until she called the doctor, our house doctor.”
Aurelia Jadrny, the famed actor’s mother, was deeply concerned about her son’s well-being. The doctor reassured her that nothing was wrong with her son:
“He finally said, no, this is quite normal in the kids at this age. They idolize men that are strong. Don’t worry about it. He’s not gay.”
Schwarzenegger admired Hercules star Steve Reeves and the English athlete Reg Park. He did intense research about the sport and tried to follow his idols’ routines. Still, his parents did not approve of his hobby:
“When I read that Reg Park was working out five hours a day, lifting heavy weights, and doing 50, 60 sets of exercise and lifting 50 tons of weights a day, I would do the same thing. My parents thought that I was a little bit sick in my head, and they thought I was overdoing it, and I was obsessed, and it was bad for my health.”
With his dedication and perseverance, Schwarzenegger became the youngest Mr. Universe in 1967 at the age of 20. He also brought home seven Mr. Olympia titles.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Parents Never Approved Of His Bodybuilding Career
Netflix released a three-part documentary chronicling the life and career of the Collateral Damage actor, directed by Lesley Chilcott and produced by Allen Hughes. Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed in the show how his parents were so distressed about him turning gay, which he revealed was their greatest fear.
He also spoke about his idol Reg Park, who became “the blueprint in where I wanted to go in life.” Apparently, his father was not thrilled with the sport he has chosen (via The Advocate):
“My dad was like, ‘You are looking in the mirror when you train, what is that all about? You are too into yourself… If you want to use your muscles, go chop wood.’”
Schwarzenegger stars in Netflix’s action-comedy series FUBAR, which has been renewed for Season 2. Arnold is also streaming on the same platform.
Sources: Academy Museum of Motion Picture, The Advocate
