From Peter Goodwin to Arnold Schwarzenegger: 10 Public Figures Exposed for Affairs With the Help

It's a betrayal that feels ripped from a soap opera — only this one comes with court filings, hotel receipts, and society-page gossip.

The latest entry into the notorious 'nanny scandal' club is Peter Goodwin, the married son of a Virginia bowling billionaire, now accused of having a months-long affair with his children's former nanny, Annette Lombard.

According to filings in Philadelphia, the 40-year-old stunned his wife, Cara, on Christmas Day by telling her he wanted a divorce — as she cradled their baby. Within six days, Goodwin and Lombard were lounging together at the Four Seasons Surf Club in Surfside, Florida, court papers state.

For all its jaw-dropping drama, Goodwin's case is hardly unprecedented. From Hollywood to high society, a long line of public figures have found their reputations upended by affairs with nannies, housekeepers, and other household staff.

10 Most Infamous 'Help' Scandals

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger – The former California governor admitted in 2011 that he fathered a child with Mildred Baena, his family's housekeeper, while married to Maria Shriver.

2. Jude Law – In 2005, Law apologised to fiancée Sienna Miller after it was revealed he had an affair with Daisy Wright, nanny to his children from his first marriage.

3. Gavin Rossdale – The Bush frontman was accused of having a three-year affair with family nanny Mindy Mann during his marriage to Gwen Stefani.

4. Ben Affleck – After splitting from Jennifer Garner, Affleck was photographed on multiple occasions with nanny Christine Ouzounian, sparking tabloid frenzy. He denied any romantic relationship.

5. Ethan Hawke – Married Ryan Shawhughes, the former nanny to his children with Uma Thurman, in 2008. Hawke insists the relationship began only after his divorce.

6. Robin Williams – Wed Marsha Garces, who had been his son's nanny, in 1989. The marriage lasted nearly two decades.

7. Jon Gosselin – A former nanny claimed an affair during his divorce saga; he denied it, but the allegation drew heavy coverage.

8. Doug Emhoff – The US Second Gentleman acknowledged in 2024 that he had an affair during his first marriage following reports it involved a nanny.

9. Joe Piscopo – The SNL alum left his first wife and later married the family nanny, Kimberly Driscoll.

10. Peter Goodwin – Now part of the infamous list, accused of swapping marital vows for luxury trysts with ex-nanny Annette Lombard.

The Public's Blunt Advice: 'Don't Hire Attractive Nannies'

These stories light up comment sections almost as much as they do gossip pages — with readers offering no-nonsense, if controversial, advice.

'More modern women need to understand this point,' wrote one commenter in the New York Post. 'They think men are only attracted to beauty, but that only goes so far. We are also attracted to women who take care of our kids and cook great meals. If you outsource those core duties of a wife to others while you stay busy with your career, then the one doing those core functions will get the attention.'

Another reader cut right to the chase: 'This might anger a lot of women, but it's just not a good idea to have an attractive nanny. I love my wife. She's my best friend. I don't need the temptation, and YES it is a temptation.'

Some were more prescriptive: 'Always hire a mature, heavy-set older woman as a nanny or housekeeper if possible. Never hire a young nanny.'

Why These Stories Stick

Experts often note a combustible mix of proximity, power imbalance and blurred professional boundaries; reputations suffer, families are strained, and for elected officials or executives, the fallout can spill into boardrooms and ballot boxes. In several cases above, careers were dented—or redefined—by what happened at home.

A Debate That Won't Die

Relationship experts and commentators have long debated the dynamics of infidelity involving domestic staff. Some argue that the responsibility for any breach of trust rests solely with the partner who strays. In contrast, others point out that household employees can sometimes be unfairly targeted or stereotyped in such situations.

For public figures, the damage extends beyond their homes. Careers take hits, reputations nosedive, and family dramas become tabloid fodder. Schwarzenegger's revelation cast a long shadow over his political legacy. Law's affair made him a late-night punchline.

As for Goodwin, the divorce is still in its early stages — but his name now sits alongside a notorious list of men whose private indiscretions with the help of others became public property.