Arnold Schwarzenegger Reflects On His Unusual Childhood Room Decor, And His Mom's Reaction

As a young Arnold Schwarzenegger was pursuing his dream of becoming a renowned bodybuilder, his bedroom was filled with images of boxing and wrestling champions, which concerned his mother.

What Happened: During a recent event, the former California governor opened up about his mother’s initial reactions to his unusual choice of wall decor.

“My mother was always looking at that wall, and she said, ‘All of your friends have pictures of girls. Where did I go wrong?'” Schwarzenegger recalled, recounting his mother’s daily tears in front of the wall until she sought medical advice.

Confused and worried, Schwarzenegger’s mother consulted their family doctor, who reassured her that it was perfectly normal for boys of Schwarzenegger’s age to idolize strong men. "This is quite normal in the kids at this age," the ‘Terminator' said, recalling a conversation between his mother and their family doctor, "They idolize men that are strong. Don’t worry about it. He’s not gay.”

It was the allure of bodybuilding that drew Schwarzenegger to figures like “Hercules” star Steve Reeves and British bodybuilding champion Reg Park, as reported by Insider, which first covered the event where Schwarzenegger spoke.

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Inspired by their stories, the former governor started immersing himself in any available information about the sport, trying to emulate their workout routines.

“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,” Schwarzenegger said, adding that his parents thought he was obsessed and were worried about his health.

Still, Schwarzenegger’s dedication paid off in 1967 when he won the title of Mr. Universe at age 20, becoming the youngest ever to do so.

His open-mindedness extends beyond the world of bodybuilding, too.

A supporter of marriage equality, the actor famously replied, “Hasta la vista,” to a Facebook user who expressed dissatisfaction over his rainbow profile photo for pride celebrations.

Despite his complicated history with the issue during his tenure as California’s governor, where he performed two marriage ceremonies for gay couples yet vetoed same-sex marriage, Schwarzenegger has come to be known for his support of the LGBTQ+ community, according to CBS.

He even signed a bill to eliminate a decades-old “gay cure” provision from California’s laws, reflecting his evolving views on inclusive matters.

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