CNN anchor and journalist Anderson Cooper sat down with Ellen DeGeneres for a chat in 2020, and he ended up revealing a whole lot about himself in the process. It's clear that Anderson was still happily riding the post-baby high since announcing Wyatt's arrival on April 30, 2020, but he and Ellen also discussed sexuality while he was on the show.
Anderson shared that he came out as gay to his friends and family while in high school, and that he also wishes he had publicly come out "sooner" than he did.
"I was open at work, but, yes, in a public way, I was not. I hadn't made a statement about it. I never said I wasn't gay or tried to hide it or pretend anything else. I just didn't want to talk about it. By not saying something, it seemed like I was indicating that I was somehow ashamed of something or not happy being gay. The complete opposite has always been the case."
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Anderson also said that he realizes now that by not saying anything about his sexuality, he was still possibly sending a message: "So I felt bad. By not saying something, I seemed to be saying something."
Anderson and Ellen also chatted about the last time he was on her show, back in 2010.
While he and Ellen had a private conversation about his sexuality, Anderson wasn't ready to come out to the world just yet. He made an announcement in 2012, when he stepped out with his then-boyfriend-possible-current-partner-definitely-co-parent, Benjamin Maisani.
He said he knew that was the right time. "I thought, 'OK, well, I want to say something.' So I did and I couldn't be happier. Even though you think you're out, you think everybody knows, it doesn't matter, [but] it does matter. It makes a difference. And I think it's important for me to have said the word 'gay.' That I'm gay and I'm proud of it."
When famous people make big statements like this, it can mean a lot for the people who look up to them. The Child Mind Institute points out, "Parents, teachers, and all caring adults need to be sensitive to teenagers who exhibit feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, anxiety, irritability, rejection, and anger — all symptoms of depression." So Anderson is right: When people who are well-known and pretty universally beloved share this kind of news about themselves, it could potentially help a younger person feel better about who they are.
Anderson has also been making the media rounds lately to discuss another topic: his newborn baby, Wyatt Cooper. Anderson recently shared that he will not be taking paternity leave because he feels a strong sense of responsibility to continue to cover the current news cycle and all of its highs and lows.
Earlier this month, he explained his decision to Stephen Colbert. "This is not some story, this is life and death. This is as serious as it gets. It's more important than ever before that things be true and accurate. That's one of the reasons why I'm not taking time off."
Luckily, like a lot of us, Anderson can easily work from home. "Thankfully, I can do some work from home and stuff, but I feel like this is an extraordinary time to be in this business as a reporter and to be able to try to help inform people, give people facts. Right now, facts and science, to give people the truth, is the difference between life and death."
And Anderson's close friend, Andy Cohen, has recently been taking to the airwaves to gush over his best friend and his new baby. "We've been talking about this for a long time and I have been really enjoying Anderson coming over. His visits with Ben have taken on a special significance since we both knew for a while that Anderson was planning on doing this himself. So, I’m excited for the two of our sons to grow up together and be friends and get to know each other."
Andy added, "It’s a great age difference for them to be pals — only one year. And, it was fun over this past year for Anderson to come over and for me to watch him with Ben and know that this would be his thing. He was obviously paying attention to a lot and it's just great."
Andy also knows what Anderson had to go through to become a father. "What I've said and he said is it's not easy and you have to jump through a lot of hoops to have a baby as a gay man. He went through a lot and I'm just so happy his son is so beautiful and happy and healthy, and I already see Anderson light up and open up in new ways. Like all homes that welcome a baby, his home is now full of the music of new life and family."
And Andy's nanny is even now working for Anderson! "The moment Anderson announced it, I got a bunch of DMs from eagle-eared Radio Andy listeners saying, 'Wait, is that where your nanny went?' Yes, that's where my nanny went! We had long planned this transition, but I certainly didn't expect it to happen [during the health crisis]."
