As he approached sixty, Anderson Cooper had already separated from his lifelong companion, Benjamin Maisani, after becoming a father. Nevertheless, the two former spouses got back together—just not in a romantic way.
Because Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani were so private about their relationship, it took years before it was revealed to the world. The couple started dating in the year 2009.
The Daily Mail first reported in March 2018 that the two were living together at Anderson’s firehouse home. Afterwards, he renovated the $4 million Manhattan, Greenwich Village residence he bought.
The relationship between Anderson and Benjamin was not made public until May of 2015. At the time, the CNN news anchor shared a photo of him and Benjamin on Instagram, writing:
“I guess that after spending a lot of time with someone, you start to pose the same.”
After that, Anderson started to go into further depth about his relationship. So much so that in August of 2016, he costarred with his boyfriend in an Architectural Digest edition.
At the time, the couple was showing off their distant co-owned home in a Brazilian region. In 2014, Benjamin talked with French Morning about the attention his relationship with Anderson was getting.
He also discussed why they had made such a strong effort to keep it quiet. The businessman claimed to understand why others were so interested by their relationship, even though he didn’t feel the same way.
Benjamin explained that, in contrast to most people, he had never thought about or aspired to be a celebrity. He said that he knew right away that revealing the relationship would put it in the spotlight too much.
Following ten years of dating, Anderson’s representative said that the journalist and Benjamin had split up in March 2018. The CNN host reportedly stated the following to explain the split:
“A while back, Benjamin and I called it quits on our relationship. We still love and care for one another as if we were family.
Anderson clarified that he would continue to share their lives and that he and his ex-boyfriend were close friends. One of the reasons behind their breakup was disclosed by the television personality in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.
He disclosed that Benjamin wasn’t sure he wanted to have children. However, Anderson didn’t wait to fulfill his 53-year-old desire of becoming a father and find a new partner to work toward.
In 2020, Anderson revealed the birth of Wyatt Morgan, his first child, at the end of his CNN broadcast. Additionally, he explained why the accomplishment was especially meaningful to him, saying:
“As a gay child, I never thought it would be possible to have children.”
The famous person conveyed his gratitude to everyone who assisted him in realizing his dream. He also conveyed his appreciation to the medical staff that helped him give birth to his baby.
The TV personality also posted four pictures of his baby kid on Instagram. He is seen caring for Wyatt in the first photo. He revealed in the picture’s caption that the boy was just three days old.
He said how the child’s first name was a coincidence because it was his own father’s, who passed away when he was just ten years old. His parents also preferred the second name, Gloria Vanderbilt, which belonged to his mother’s side of the family.
At the time, Anderson said he had chosen his name after coming upon a list his parents had made 52 years before. According to reports, Wyatt weighed 7.2 pounds at delivery and was praised for being “sweet, soft, and healthy.”
The reporter also thanked the surrogate mother for carrying him, giving birth to the boy, and keeping a tender and caring eye on him. Additionally, he thanked the surrogate’s family for their assistance prior to and following the procedure.
Anderson concluded by expressing his wish that his mother, father, and brother Carter had been present to witness his son’s development. But he chose to believe that they could see his child, and he envisioned them laughing and smiling and snuggling close to one another.
He was happy that Wyatt and he still shared their love and that their family line would continue. In August 2020, Anderson found out that Wyatt was sleeping on an odd schedule for a baby who was only four months old at the time.
Every night, the newborn slept for twelve hours! The CNN anchor emphasized that he was getting assistance from a nurse and joked that she didn’t know what she did—she didn’t use alcohol or Ambien, though—to put the child to sleep for extended periods of time!
Even though Anderson got assistance from someone else in taking care of the child, he still had one condition. The famous person stated that he was against his child being raised by a single parent.
Anderson explained why he chose not to raise his child alone on “The Howard Stern Show” in May 2020. The famous person discussed how his mother, who wasn’t particularly paternal, reared him and his brother as a single parent when his father passed away.
He wished the absence had been filled up by another adult in his life. Someone who periodically recommended talking to him or offered to accompany him to a baseball game or lunch; the writer continued:
“Thus, even if nothing terrible happened to me, I would be in favor of more people loving my son and being in his life.”
He talked about how he would want to have two parents if it were feasible. Ironically, even after their breakup, he and Benjamin kept living together in their home due to their positive connection.
Between him and the nightclub owner, Anderson claimed that things were “weird.” Benjamin was initially reluctant to co-parent with Wyatt, but he ultimately changed his mind and is now a fantastic partner.
The former couple lived in the firehouse Anderson bought and renovated in Greenwich Village in 2009. The famous person claims that Wyatt would probably call Benjamin “Papa,” but since he was French, Benjamin would be referred to as “Dad” or “Daddy.”
Anderson joked that since Wyatt was not understanding the businessman, he might be manipulating him by speaking to the little child in his own language! When questioned if the ex-couple may get back together, the journalist, however, dismissed the possibility.
In August 2020, Anderson talked to WSJ magazine about how becoming a father had made him realize how much life had changed. Despite being 53 at the time, he talked about how he felt like he was waiting for his real life to start.
The actor claimed that he had been concentrating on moving forward or telling a tale, but that concentrating on Wyatt brought order to the situation. The anchor for the news said, “It’s changed everything.”
Due to his night shift employment, Anderson used to wake up late as well, but after Wyatt’s arrival, he now wakes up at seven in the morning. Since his son’s awakening marked the highest point of his day, it was his objective to rise before him.
Co-parenting responsibilities would also be divided between Benjamin Maisani and Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, the newborn who weighed 6.8 pounds at birth.
The young boy was happy to see him smile and stretch when he saw him. After going to his son’s room on the fourth level from the third, Anderson waited for him to make noises to signal to the star that he was awake before going in to check on him.
In June 2020, the TV personality told People magazine that he would be open to expanding his family in the future. But first, he needed some time to clear his head and get a better night’s sleep!
He thought it would be great if Wyatt had a sibling or sister. Then, in February 2022, Anderson disclosed on “Anderson Cooper 360°” that he had welcomed his second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, through surrogacy!
Benjamin would also share co-parenting responsibilities with the baby, who weighed 6.8 pounds at delivery. At that time, the celebrity revealed that Wyatt’s previous partner was in the process of adopting the child, and that his last name will be changed to Maisani-Cooper.
But after Wyatt was born in December 2020, Anderson admitted that he was “tired more than I’ve ever been.” Still, he loved being a dad and “wouldn’t change it for the world,” and he would often cry when he saw his child.
