These days, there are so many ways to build a family, and all of those ways are celebrated. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is definitely forging his own path, as he recently shared that he will be raising his son, Wyatt, with his ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani. The two split up back in 2018 but have maintained a strong friendship, and co-parenting felt like a logical step for the pair to take together.
Anderson recently explained, "I don't really have a family, so my friends have become my family. This is somebody I was involved with for 10 years. He's a great guy. We didn't work out as a couple but … if more people love my son and are in his life, I'm all for that. My ex is a great guy, and I think it's good to have two parents if you can."
Anderson's mother and father have both passed away, and he lost his brother in 1988. Anderson was able to tell his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, that he was becoming a father before she died last year.
In a call-in live interview, a woman asked Anderson, "Considering your mother comes from a different era, how do you think she would take or handle you becoming a father in an unconventional way? She comes from a completely different era."
He replied that the "different era" didn't matter. "I was able to tell her before she died that I was going to have a son and she was thrilled. She had been wanting me to have a kid for a long time."
Anderson added, "My mom was definitely from a different era and a different world, but she was the most modern and accepting person I think I’ve ever met. Even at 95, she was also the most youthful person I think I know. She was up for anything. She wanted me to have a kid and she felt I would be a great dad. I think she would be amazed and thrilled to meet Wyatt and I hope she can see him."
Anderon's son, Wyatt, is named after his own father, who died when he was 10 years old. The elder Wyatt Cooper was only 50 when he died, and his death on January 5, 1978, followed a series of heart attacks and open-heart surgery.
While speaking about his father in 2016, Anderson said, "He gave me the sense that I had value, that my ideas mattered. That instilled in me a confidence I don’t think I would have otherwise had."
While some sources claim that Anderson and Benjamin are back together, neither has confirmed the rumor. An insider allegedly told Us Weekly that "Anderson has reconciled with Ben. They very quietly got back together and are planning ahead. Ben is selling one of his clubs and cutting back on how much he does at night so he can spend more time at home with Anderson and the baby."
Anderson and Benjamin broke up in 2018 after nine years of dating. In a statement confirming the split, Anderson said, "Benjamin and I separated as boyfriends some time ago. We are still family to each other, and love each other very much. We remain the best of friends, and will continue to share much of our lives together."
The two never gave an official reason for their split, and they really don't owe anyone a reason at all. What's important now is that they are raising baby Wyatt together, and it sounds like something they're both excited about.
The same insider said, "Very, very few people knew. He didn’t tell his team at CNN until just before the show. … Only a select few of his closest A-list pals — including Kelly Ripa and Andy Cohen — were sworn to secrecy."
Anderson announced Wyatt's birth on April 30, writing, "It has been a difficult time in all of our lives, and there are certainly many hard days ahead. It is, I think, especially important in times of trouble to hold on to moments of joy and happiness. Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones, we are also blessed with new life. New love."
He added, "As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth.
"Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me."
Since Wyatt's birth, Anderson and his son have been showered with well-wishes from around the world. Anderson has spoken live on the air about the gift that he feels fatherhood is, and he even came close to tears the first time he shared with CNN viewers that he's now a dad.
Whatever their dynamic, Benjamin and Anderson are both committed to raising Wyatt. Anderson has shared that because Benjamin is French, Wyatt will likely call him "Papa" and will call Anderson "Dad" or "Daddy," since those two names are more traditionally American.
