“How Could You Call Us Girly Men?”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Defends His Controversial Comment by Confessing His Actual Intentions

Bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger has been on a hot streak of podcast appearances. The 76-year-old icon has been busy promoting his self-help book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. Despite the success of his latest work, the former champion bodybuilder has continued to promote it through podcasts and has also discussed several interesting facts about his life during such sessions. On October 25, the fitness icon appeared on the Fly on the Wall Podcast. Saturday Night Live alumni Dana Carvey and David Spade host the podcast and promise audiences never heard stories from their guests.

In Arnold Schwarzenegger’s case, they stayed true to their promise. The former governor opened up about a controversial comment that got him in hot water.

Arnold Schwarzenegger did not intend to demean his peers

During the podcast, the hosts spoke about Schwarzenegger’s tough guy persona from his bodybuilding and acting days. They mentioned how Schwarzenegger’s “girly men” comment seemed like “gym talk” instead of a malicious adjective. The hosts also mentioned how the controversy went national when Arnie labeled some of his legislators with the phrase.

The 76-year-old explained why he had used the term and why he didn’t think it would become controversial. The Hollywood icon explained that some of his peers “got really offended” after he used the phrase to describe them. The bodybuilding icon also recounted the public’s reaction when he used the term. “I have to take it directly to you… because this girly man in Sacramento wouldn’t go for it,” the then-governor said.

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The audience laughed when he said it. However, it later caused a massive uproar in the media. Arnie said the legislators asked, “How could you call us girly men?” So Schwarzenegger apologized. “I didn’t even want to insult them. I actually wanted to just entertain the crowd,” revealed the governor. Arnie’s intentions weren’t unfounded.

A different response

In 1999, four years before Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor, he appeared on the WWE. As one of the most popular television shows, the action star appeared on WWE SmackDown to promote his then-upcoming film, End of Days. Schwarzenegger maintained his tough-guy persona and entertained the crowd.

“I tell them that they are too much of girly men to be on that show. I’m the only one that has the right to be on the show,” Arnie said during an interview following his appearance. However, the bodybuilding icon didn’t receive any backlash. This past reception might’ve been why Schwarzenegger made the same comment as the governor.

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