Brian Snyder-Pool/Getty ImagesUPDATE: A rep for Schwarzenegger tells E! News, "The governor called Universal Studios Tuesday to say he did not want to travel to Asia because he is focused on personal matters."
A studio insider confirms the rep's statement.
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Universal Studios Theme Park in Singapore is giving Arnold Schwarzenegger a big ol' hasta la vista baby.
The scandal-plagued actor was disinvited from a scheduled appearance at the amusement park's opening festivities this weekend, a source tells E! News.
Operators at the park didn't think the former governor of California, who just revealed he fathered a 13-year-old love child with his housekeeper/mistress, Mildred Patricia Baena, was the best name they could use to promote their family-friendly venue.
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No word yet on if there is an official stand-in for Schwarzenegger, although a source tells E! News that X Factor judge Paula Abdul has agreed to attend the opening along with a slew of other American stars.
"With all the complications surrounding him, they decided to dump him," said a source familiar with the negotiations that would have brought Arnold to the park's opening festivities.
Universal Studios Theme Park higher-ups told the actor not to come two days ago, on Wednesday, before he announced he would be taking a break from that planned return to acting.
Organizers for the bash had announced that Schwarzenegger and Jet Li had been scheduled to appear together at the opening, set for May 28 at the park, which features 21 rides, live shows, and the word's tallest dueling roller coaster.
"We are very excited and thrilled to have Paula as our honoree guest," an organizer for Resorts World Singapore tells E! News. Added a rep for the event: "Universal Studios had many big celebs to choose from, but felt Paula Abdul becoming a judge on The X Factor was exactly what they were looking for. The X Factor is very popular in Singapore, in fact one of their top shows. Paula was last in Singapore when she was on tour in the early 90s."
A rep for Universal had no official comment on the Schwarzenegger cancellation.
(Originally published May 20, 2011, at 12:33 p.m. PT)