Joseph Baena Announces Death of Little Nephew — Details

A touching message from Arnold Schwarzenegger's son has drawn attention across social media, as he opened up about a personal loss that has left his family in deep sorrow.

Joseph Baena has shared heartbreaking news about the death of his young nephew, Vicente, in a solemn Instagram post dated March 27, 2025.

"It's been a week since my nephew, Vicente, left us and it's been the most difficult and confusing week of my family's life," Joseph wrote. He described Vicente as "a kind, funny, caring and smart kid" and expressed the deep love his family holds for him.

The actor and fitness enthusiast opened up about the emotions he has faced since Vicente's death. "We miss him so much and still can't believe this is all real," he continued. "I can't help but be frustrated, mad, confused and sad for this tragic event, but I also think about how we never truly know what weight a person carries or what battles they struggle with."

Joseph used the moment to reach out to others who may be experiencing emotional pain. "As I mourn with my family I pray that all of you that are struggling, that are hurting and that are tired, may find the strength to be kind to yourself," he wrote. He urged those in distress to "find the help that you need" and reminded them, "your life is worth living."

He concluded the post with a tribute to his nephew, "We miss you Vicente. Rest in peace." The touching Instagram post included a series of heartwarming images. One photo featured Joseph standing proudly beside Vicente, seemingly at his college graduation.

A family portrait also appeared in the collection, including Joseph's mother, 64-year-old Mildred Patricia Baena. That particular moment seemed to be taken during one of Joseph's soccer practices.

One more photo showed Joseph, Vicente, and other family members gathered together in support of Joseph during his time on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2022.

Additionally, an image captured Vicente sitting on Joseph's shoulders, both smiling brightly with arms lifted high in front of a fountain.

Joseph did not disclose the cause of Vicente's death. The post reflects the family's grief and his call for compassion and support for those silently struggling with personal battles.

While Joseph has now stepped into the public eye with heartfelt openness, sharing moments from his personal life and his loved ones, his early years were marked by secrecy and distance — especially after news broke about his father's identity.

Joseph's complicated family dynamic stems from Arnold's long-standing marriage to journalist Maria Shriver, which began in April 1986.

The couple welcomed their first child, Katherine, in December 1989, followed by Christina in July 1991, Patrick in September 1993, and Christopher in September 1997. Years later, it was revealed that their youngest half-sibling, Joseph, was born in October 1997.

Joseph's arrival was the result of Arnold's affair with Mildred Baena, the family's housekeeper. In his 2012 memoir, "Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story," he admitted to sleeping with her in 1996 in the guesthouse of his Pacific Palisades home while Maria was on vacation with their children.

Joseph's birth initially went unquestioned, as Mildred listed her husband, Rogelio Baena, as the father, and Arnold admitted that he "wanted" to believe it. However, as Joseph grew older, his resemblance to "The Terminator" star became undeniable.

By the time he turned eight, the actor realized the truth — his son bore an uncanny likeness to him. As Joseph's resemblance to Arnold became more apparent, Maria grew suspicious.

Her doubts reached a breaking point when she confronted Mildred, who had worked for the family for almost 20 years and had even invited Maria to Joseph's christening.

Overcome with emotion, Mildred confessed and broke down in tears. Despite the betrayal, Maria urged her not to leave immediately. During a therapy session with her spouse, the NBC correspondent directly addressed her concerns, leading to a pivotal moment in her marriage with Arnold.

In his book, the movie actor recalled, "The minute we sat down, the therapist turned to me and said, 'Maria wanted to come here today and to ask about a child — whether you fathered a child with your housekeeper Mildred.'"

Without hesitation, he admitted the truth, "I told the therapist, 'It's true.'" Arnold initially attempted to justify keeping Joseph a secret by offering Maria what he later noted were three "lame" explanations.

He cited embarrassment, a deep-seated need for secrecy, and a desire to prevent her from informing her well-known family. For 15 years, the affair remained hidden, known only to those directly involved.

That changed in 2011 when the Los Angeles Times exposed the story, igniting a media frenzy. The revelation deeply affected Arnold's family.

In the wake of the scandal, he addressed Maria and their children directly, expressing remorse for his actions. The father of five stated that he was "truly sorry" for the affair with Mildred, acknowledging the pain he had caused.

As Arnold publicly acknowledged his mistakes, Joseph's world was also turned upside down. In an interview, he recalled the moment his life changed forever.

"I remember the day very vividly," he shared. "I was in the eighth grade. Fifth or sixth period. And I get called out of class to leave. And my mom's there, and she's like, 'We gotta go — everyone is finding out about you and who your father is.'"

Their home quickly became a target, with news trucks parked outside and photographers relentlessly pursuing them. At just 13, Joseph was already navigating the challenges of adolescence, but overnight, his entire reality shifted.

To escape the media frenzy, he and Mildred fled to Texas, seeking refuge with family. Despite the chaos, they leaned on each other for support. "She was really the only person I had, and I was really the only person that she had," he explained. "No one knew, and everyone wanted the details. We had each other's backs."

As Joseph and Mildred sought privacy, the fallout continued to reshape the Schwarzenegger family. Maria separated from Arnold shortly after the affair and Joseph's parentage became public, bringing their 25-year marriage to an end.

The separation was not only a turning point for their family but also a deeply painful chapter in Arnold's life. During an interview on "The Howard Stern Show" podcast, he reflected on the impact of their split, calling it "without any doubt, the biggest setback and the biggest failure."

The former California governor acknowledged that it was not just a failure but a moment of personal accountability, admitting that he alone was to blame and had no one else to fault for what happened.

Arnold continued to reflect on the consequences of his actions in the years that followed. In a 2017 interview, he said the affair and its aftermath as a "major screw-up."

Maria's divorce filing was finalized in December 2021, with little legal activity in between. The settlement details remain private, and with their children now adults, no custody or child support was required.

Although the marriage ended, Arnold and Maria have maintained a friendship, and his relationship with their children remains strong. They have continued to support him, even praising him as the "greatest dad."

The businessman has also shared that Joseph understands the complexities of their family dynamic. However, his bond with some of his half-siblings remains distant or nonexistent.

Joseph's disconnected relationship with some of his half-siblings became evident during major family milestones. When Katherine married actor Chris Pratt in June 2019, he was not present at the wedding, though all his half-siblings attended.

However, he acknowledged the occasion by commenting on Katherine's Instagram post announcing the news, writing, "Congratulations!" adding two hearts and a champagne-bottle emoji.

The newly-wedded bride's Instagram followers took notice of Joseph's absence from her wedding, sparking a wave of reactions in the comments section. Some directly questioned the situation, asking why "Joe wasn't invited" and whether his exclusion was intentional.

Meanwhile, others expressed disappointment, with one remarking that "Arnold is the only one that acknowledges him" and calling the situation "heartbreaking."

A few commenters sympathized with Joseph, urging him to "keep his head up" while criticizing his half-siblings for their treatment of him. Another pointed out that "Joseph seems like such a nice kid" and argued that as "professing Christians," his brothers and sisters should have shown more acceptance toward him as their "own flesh and blood."

While discussions about his absence circulated online, Joseph appeared unfazed, spending the day focused on his routine. He was reportedly at the gym, with his friend Thomas A.C. Kocer, who shared Instagram Stories of his intense workout at Pepperdine University.

Earlier that year, Joseph had graduated from the school with a business degree, with Arnold providing financial support throughout his education.

Instead of attending the wedding, Joseph was seen at the GO Campaign Presents Vintage Hollywood 2019 event in Los Angeles that same evening. His absence from family gatherings — and even online interactions — was apparent.

While he follows Katherine and Patrick on Instagram, neither of them follows him back, including Christina. As for Christopher, he doesn't have a public account under his name.

The divide was further evident on National Siblings Day that same year when Katherine shared a photo with Christina, Patrick, and Christopher — but Joseph was not included. She captioned the post, "I LOVE THEM SO MUCH #nationalsiblingsday." The omission did not go unnoticed, as commenters quickly pointed it out.

One social media user mentioned that Joseph's half-siblings never acknowledge him, despite him consistently liking and following their posts. They also noted that while his siblings engage with most of Arnold's photos, they seem to avoid the ones that include Joseph.

The 27-year-old's exclusion from family moments reflects a deeper disconnect. A source who has worked with the family divulged that Katherine and Christina "have really no relationship with Joseph," while Patrick and Christopher have more interaction with him.

Meanwhile, a close family insider noted that eight years after the affair was exposed, everyone had been working through the situation and had managed to adjust to a new reality.

Another source explained that they are trying to establish a private relationship before making it public. Patrick and Joseph took a step toward reconnecting in April 2021 when they were seen together for the first time in over a decade since the scandal broke.

The half-brothers bonded over a workout at the Santa Monica Stairs, showcasing their shared passion for fitness — something they both inherited from their father. Patrick Schwarzenegger and Joseph's rare public outing marked a moment of interaction, but their family dynamic remained largely unchanged.

By 2023, the distance between Joseph and his other half-siblings was still noticeable. At the premiere of Arnold's Netflix series "FUBAR," he was surrounded by his older children, posing affectionately with Christina and Katherine — as well as Katherine's husband, Chris.

Meanwhile, Joseph attended the event alone. Despite Arnold maintaining a close bond with all five of his children, his four kids with Maria continue to keep their distance from their younger half-brother.

The distance between Joseph and his half-siblings contrasts sharply with his strong bond with Arnold. A source close to the veteran star shared that he and Joseph "are very close."

However, the same insider noted that "the other kids don't love Joe," despite Arnold always treating him the same as his other children. "It's a shame as he's a really good kid," the source added, suggesting that his half-siblings still associate him with the affair and continue to keep their distance.

Despite the tension between his kids, Arnold continues to show unwavering support for Joseph. In October 2021, he celebrated his son's birthday with a tribute on X.

Sharing photos of them together, he penned, "Happy birthday Joseph! I am so proud of you and I love you! You are crushing it in the gym, in your real estate career, and in acting. I know this will be another fantastic year."

Following in his father's footsteps, Joseph has built a career in both fitness and entertainment. As a fitness model and actor, he has even appeared on the cover of Men's Health magazine — a milestone Arnold himself once achieved.

Joseph Baena embraces his achievements with gratitude, sharing his milestones with both of his parents. When asked in an interview if he calls Arnold to celebrate his successes, he said that he always enjoys sharing those moments with them.

He finds joy in keeping them updated, describing it as a fulfilling experience to be able to acknowledge his progress. His father remains a strong supporter, encouraging him every step of the way.

Reflecting on Arnold Schwarzenegger's reaction to his Men's Health cover, Joseph explained that his father fully supports his goals, takes pride in his accomplishments, and is always present throughout his journey.