Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Hollywood legends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, recently opened up in a rare interview about her parents’ troubled marriage and her father’s alleged affairs.
In a heartfelt chat on CBS Sunday Morning, Lucie shared emotional childhood memories and gave a fresh perspective on a relationship that fascinated the world for decades.
What Lucie Said About Her Father’s Affairs
During the interview, Lucie, now 73, addressed the long-standing rumors about her father’s infidelity. But she made a surprising clarification: “He never had an affair. He didn’t even know their names. They were hookers,” she said bluntly.
When the interviewer asked if those encounters were purely “transactional,” Lucie agreed. She added that despite these incidents, her father truly loved her mother and his family. According to her, this unique dynamic was part of why Lucille Ball stayed with him for so long.
A Marriage That Was Complicated
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, starring together in the classic TV show I Love Lucy. But behind the scenes, their marriage was far from perfect. They divorced in 1960, the same year they ended their show.
Lucie recalled the day she and her younger brother Desi Jr. found out about the divorce. They were just 8 and 7 years old. “They said that being husband and wife was broken, and they couldn’t live together anymore,” Lucie remembered. Her brother’s response was heartbreaking: “Can’t you just fix it?”
Life After Divorce
Lucie believes her parents were actually happier after separating. “The screaming and the arguing stopped,” she said. She also shared how, as a child, she felt protective of her dad and felt sorry for him, even though many blamed him for the breakup.
She explained that she felt he was “ousted” from the family unit, and that shaped how she viewed him while growing up.
A Lasting Love Despite Divorce
Even after they split, the love between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz didn’t disappear. Lucie’s story matches with what Ball’s friend Lillian Winograd once told PEOPLE: Lucille broke down in tears after visiting Desi shortly before he died of lung cancer in 1986.
“She said, ‘That was the one love,’” Winograd recalled. Lucille Ball passed away just three years later in 1989.
Others, like the couple’s long-time writer Bob Weiskopf, also confirmed Desi’s view. He reportedly said, “I love her. When I go out with women, they’re usually hookers. Those don’t count.”
Lucie Arnaz’s rare interview offers a personal and honest look into one of Hollywood’s most famous marriages. Despite the drama and heartache, it’s clear there was deep love between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Lucie’s memories help fans understand their story not just as stars, but as people trying to make a relationship work under pressure.
Their story may have ended in divorce, but their legacy—both personal and professional—lives on through their children and the laughter they brought to the world.
