In honor of Anderson Cooper‘s eponymous talk show, which debuted today with an interview with Amy Winehouse’s family, we present some casual shots of the gray-haired devil.
FYI: We’re almost positive that’s Coop’s “special friend,” Eastern Bloc owner Benjamin Maisani, on the right in the first image.
UPDATE: It’s not Maisani on the right, but rather AC’s executive assistant, Joey Gardner. We stand corrected.
UPDATE: Okay maybe it is is Maisani on the right. We give up!
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Images via Dan Avery, AndersonCooper.com
LOrion
He took Ben to Vanity Fair Oscar viewing party 3/2010
http://tinyurl.com/yby9jag
Kathy Z in Layfayette Indiana
http://backstage.andersoncooper.com/post/8341064062/joey-music-monday-photo
The guy on the right is Joey Gardner, Anderson’s assistant/bodyguard. See the pic? It’s the same guy.
Kathy Z in Layfayette Indiana
@LOrion: Actually that is Joey Gardner, look at the pic on the @Anderson website, same guy.
adam
@Kathy Z in Layfayette Indiana: That is not Anderson’s assistant in the Queerty photo, it’s his boyfriend Benjamin. The only thing the two guys have in common is short hair, their faces and bodies don’t resemble each other at all.
christopher di spirito
Here’s an unintentionally amusing piece from the New York Times about the speciousness of people like Anderson Cooper telling reporters he strives to be “authentic” when he can’t live an authentic life and be candid about his sexual orientation.
The comments are having none of Cooper’s bullshit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/fashion/for-only-the-authentic-cultural-studies.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=authentic&st=cse
UWSguy
what’s the big deal? The talk show will last a season or two that’s all.
Redford
His personal life is no ones business unless you don’t have a life of your own and need to live through others.
TanyaHyde
@Redford:
“His personal life is no ones business unless you don’t have a life of your own and need to live through others.”
Redford, my amendment to a portion of your statement: “and need to live through or control others.”
Nick
I don’t get the fascination with this guy, he’s so boring. The only way he could atone for that would be to come out, and he won’t.
christopher di spirito
@Nick: I agree. Cooper looks like an albino lab rat. I know middle aged housewives and middle aged gay men drool over him but, I don’t get it either.
ewe
I think he is getting a bit too overexposed myself.
ewe
@christopher di spirito: You might not know this but you are extremely insulting and your attack on anyone older than 35 is a sign of your own immaturity.
christopher di spirito
@ewe: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
ewe
@christopher di spirito: yawn is right. You are obviously inexperienced with life itself.
Jonathan
I see the Coop at the gym several times a week, either with or without his bf, and can confirm that he exudes the same warmth and easygoing cool that we see on CNN. He’s undeniably handsome and as someone with such an intense schedule, he’s in visibly phenomenal physical shape and never fails to look completely refreshed.
hf2hvit
@Redford: Fame is like the scantilly clad: You don’t get to choose who’s looking nor which part at which they are staring.
CJ
I’m getting tired of hearing about Anderson Cooper. Ok, so we all know he is gay. But, there are lots of gays on TV and in the movies. Let’s get off the Anderson Cooper obsession and move on. It’s like the Davey Wavey obsession. At first it’s great to hear the news… but after a while we need to move on to the next story. Anderson Cooper is old news by now. It is like Sarah Palin. It’s last week’s story. Time to move on.
xander
Does anybody have any reasonable theory as to why AC doesn’t come out publicly? I honestly don’t understand his reticence.
I’m not clawing at the TV set for him to come out, mind you, but it’s still an odd bother that everyone in his industry seems to know he’s gay and, in fact, coupled, yet he never speaks his own truth.
perdeep
I have a different, but I think equally pressing question: why on earth would one of CNN’s few reasonably hard-hitting and articulate newscasters go off and do a fluffy talk show? Really, Anderson Cooper? Amy Winehouse’s family? We go from reliable coverage of Hurricane Katrina aftermath to sponging off morbid fascination with dead celebrities?
newcityspot
I’ve never been attracted to him, although I can understand why people find him handsome. I’m sure he wouldn’t be attracted to me anyway 🙂 So I’m not fan trying to defend him in saying that there is no requirement for anyone to talk about their sexuality publicly. If he wanted to draw that kind of attention then he would. I may be uninformed, but has he lied to anyone about whether he has sex with men or women? I haven’t read anywhere that he’s lying to anyone. Until I find out he’s lying, I think he’s doing just fine.
It’s really not anyone’s responsibility to come out. And it’s not fair to assume anyone’s a coward for being discreet about their private life.
We each make the decision to do what we want with our lives – nobody should dictate how someone else should live their life. Focus on yourself! Make changes on a personal level and only help others if they ask for it.
Curt
In the first pic. Thats anderson’s bf ben in the blue shirt and shorts.
Curt
Correction the guy in the white shoes. Is ac bf ben.
Pitou
He’s a sexy ass Vanderbilt. Yumm Yumm!
I also LOVE that he preserved the structure or at least the facade of his Firehouse, instead of demo and re-build like most others might have done.
It’s too bad The Breakers went to his Great Aunt the Countess instead of his Grandfather.. I’d love to see Cooper Sunning on the fabulous patio of The Breakers in Newport, RI.
BUT.. He should be an out and proud Vanderbilt. It would show that even Queers can come from some of the most distinguished families in this countries history.
mike128
Anderson Cooper should come out. If he’s not going to though, let’s stop talking about him. I find him less and less interesting and attractive as time goes on.
drewa24
@christopher di spirito: C’mon Christopher, He’s a little hot. Albino lab rat? How bout White Carrera Marble sloppy power bottom(that’s what I hear), and who wouldn’t want to shoot a load in that cleft between his eyes? Personally I’d rather 007 inch Daniel Craig, but lunch at Glorias? Restaurant quality shrimp salad minimum. Love your snarky shit.
Gareth
Whos the fella with Anderson in pics # 6 & 7 guys? im intrigued…..
Gareth
Whos the fella with Anderson in pics 6 & 7 guys??? im intrigued…….
Andy
I love the look on the guy’s face in the audience in #10. So much gay face!
Curt
In the first pic ac’s bf ben is wearing white shoes. Hes on ac’s left hand side with the black bag. Look at those arms.
Don Gaudard
@xander: Yes. It’s because he often goes to countries in which homosexuality will lead you to a death sentence. If he goes to Africa as a gay reporter, his life could potentially be in danger. Keep this in mind before you criticize him for not coming out.
Curt
Thats an excuse ac wants u to believe. Miguel marquez, john yang are both out publicly and still report in dangerous- homophobic countries. Miguel reported in middle east this year and he made it through. Bottom line is ac doesnt want to publicly annouce he’s gay. And well thats his choice.
Bryan
@Redford: You mean his SEXUALITY is no ones’ business. He was glad to talk about his father in an interview I read last week. Does it get more personal than your childhood and family? So, yes he is willing to talk about his personal life, just not his sexuality. I wish people would stop using the typical celeb quotes when they want to avoid a question.
Ask Anderson Cooper about his sexuality and he’ll decline to answer, ask him about his childhood and he’ll talk about it. Both are part of his personal life aren’t they?
Marty
I’m just jealous that AC and Ben will be living in a cool NYC firehouse soon.
xander
@Don Guardard : You def. have a point there about the int’l risks, although as @curt said, (less prominent) newcasters have come out. I still wonder if he has other issues, as well: family? contract? bf?
Regardless, for me (or anyone else) to cast stones or demand he be publicly outed against his will seems to be a fool’s venture, espec. given the true enemies we face. I see no downside as to his credibilty in news when or if he comes out publicly.
@perdeep : Perceptive question, that. And I like the term “fluffy” in terms of his new show, as well. Not my cuppa.
@drewa24 : You have a way with words. Keep on commenting! Was that shrimp bit a metaphor, Lol?
Marty
@Gareth, the guy in pics 6-7 was the host of a Google/YouTube Q&A Anderson did in NYC.
http://www.doobybrain.com/2011/08/28/youtube-qa-at-google-with-anderson-cooper/
adam
@Bryan: When straight and gay celebrities use the words “personal life” when talking to the media about boundaries they commonly mean sexually related things and sexual and/or romantic relationships. The media know that. Anderson Cooper’s interviewer knew that and was using the phrase in that way, the interviewer was the one who introduced the phrase when asking him if he’d be opening about his personal life after the two of them had already been talking about family things.
A lot of private straight celebrities are comfortable talking about their parents, siblings and childhood but not about other areas like their dating lives. They don’t have to worry about public stress on their relationship with their parents leading to their parents dumping them or a cheating scandal between them and their parents.
There are lots of things he doesn’t discuss aside from his sexuality like his politics. He doesn’t talk about many of the people in his life, only the ones who have died or are famous.
adam
@Curt: The media doesn’t spend any time talking about Marquez or Yang’s sexuality so their sexuality is still very under the radar even though they are officially out. A few gay blogs mentioned Marquez and his sexuality after he got roughed up in Egypt and posters freaked out at them, criticizing them for potentially increasing Marquez’s risk level there by drawing attention to his otherwise not well known sexuality. The fact Marquez happened to make it through that doesn’t mean that being out and gay will not increase the threat or difficulty level a reporter faces doing work internationally; and Marquez was allowed to make the choice himself about taking on any additional risk and difficulties associated with coming out, it wasn’t thrust upon him.
velocifero
He won’t come out because he is a spoiled rich society brat who will get knocked off the A-List access he has to the Hamptons, DC and upper West side influence. He couldn’t care about you poor middle class queens anymore then a sale at Barneys. You are so naive.
n900mixalot
@velocifero: I’m just sayin … I get the same vibe from him and sure it isn’t his fault but he reminds me of a LOT of the things I can’t stand about my fellow gay men. I’m just glad I’ve been lucky enough to be able to surround myself with gay folks who don’t recognize him as an “idol”, but as another type of gay who does what he does.
He ain’t my hero but if he is to someone else who needs one, live and let live.