Journalist and news anchor Anderson Cooper graces the latest cover of People magazine with his son, Wyatt. The magazine, out this Friday, is People’s first-ever Pride issue.
Cooper, 53, revealed on his 360° show on CNN at the end of April that he had become a father via the use of a surrogate. He posted images of him and his son to his Instagram. For People, he has posed with his son for a beautiful portrait shot by photographer Melanie Acevedo and spoken about the experience of becoming a parent. He describes his son’s birth as, “A dream come true.”
“When I was 12 years old and knew I was gay and thought about my life, it always upset me because I thought, ‘I will never be able to have a kid’,” says Cooper.
“It feels like my life has actually begun,” he continued. “And I sort of wonder, what was I waiting for? This is a new level of love. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced, and yet it’s also very familiar and incredibly special and intimate. It’s really extraordinary.”
Following the news of the arrival of his son, there was speculation that Cooper was back together with his ex, nightclub owner Benjamin Maisani, 47. However, Cooper later clarified that although not back together as partners, they are co-parents to Wyatt.
Related: Anderson Cooper announces he’s a dad and shares pics of son, Wyatt
He says that Wyatt means he and Maisani get less sleep, and the boy’s arrival has made them both more expressive with their emotions.
“I’m more tired than I’ve ever been, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” said Cooper.
“I cry at things I never cried at before. And Benjamin, I’ve never seen him cry, but I couldn’t believe how weepy he gets with Wyatt. I find myself being overwhelmed with emotion, and it’s a lovely thing.”
In May, in an interview with Howard Stern, Cooper elaborated on why he’d chosen his ex as a co-parent: “I don’t really have a family, and so my friends become my family,” he said. “And this is somebody I was involved with for 10 years. He’s a great guy.
“When I was a little kid, it was just my mom [Gloria Vanderbilt] and my brother,” Cooper explained. He lost his father at the age of ten. His brother took his own life in 1988 at the age of 23. His mother died last year.
“She was not the most parental person and I wish some adult after my dad died had stepped in and just been like, ‘You know what, I’ll take you to a ball game.’ Or, ‘Let’s go out to lunch every now and then, and let’s just talk.’ You know, like, no one ever did that and so I thought, well if something happens to me or even if something doesn’t happen to me, 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.”
Related: The religious right is targeting new dad Anderson Cooper with anti-gay attacks
Cam
If he hadn’t come out he wouldn’t have been able to do that. So to all the people who kept saying people coming out doesn’t make a difference
dhmonarch89
never a fan of people who use their kids for publicity/cover of magazines…Andy Cohen has really turned him into a media whore.
MikeM
I agree. Anderson at least has a talent. He’s a trained journalist who has worked his tail off to get where he is. Andy Cohen is a parasite who lives and thrives off of other people’s lives and drama. Much like Perez Hilton.
Jim
Children are not to be used for PR!!!
SELA Rising
All the best. Is it me or does his son look like Don Rickles? Winston Churchill?
Gary Q VV
Ahhh, I think the People Magazine cover makes a nice statement about how LGBTQ parents are possible in this age. Using your child on a magazine cover doesn’t mean you’re using it as a PR opportunity; maybe Cooper is just another excited celebrity who wants to share and show his parental love.
Black Pegasus
Some moments should be kept private. Your children are not ornaments or pets to be shown off! That kid did not consent to having his childhood photographed for the world.
Cam
Except for the fact that huge numbers of straight adults have pictures of their kids on their desk, and huge numbers of straight actors have pictures of them with their babies.
Ohhh, right, you normally defend anti’LGBT bigots, so of course you’re going to find a problem with an openly gay guy giving an interview about having a kid.
Black Pegasus
@CAM
Oh shut up you barking chihuahua. Who said anything about sexuality? I don’t like it when straight celebs like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian show off their kids either. It’s trashy!
b2rocketfan
I think it’s sweet. I personally could never afford a surrogate but good for him. He’s on a Pride magazine cover promoting gay men being fathers. I don’t see this as the same as reality tv people who use their children as props.