Anderson Cooper, the CNN anchor, and his ex-boyfriend Benjamin Maisani are the proud parents of two sons. In May 2020, Cooper announced during a CNN Town Hall broadcast that he had welcomed his first child, Wyatt Cooper, via surrogate. He shared the news on Instagram, expressing his joy at becoming a father and naming his son after his late father, Wyatt Emory. Cooper also revealed that Wyatt’s middle name, Morgan, is a family name that his parents had considered for him 52 years ago. The TV journalist also mentioned that Maisani, whom he dated for nearly a decade, would be a coparent to Wyatt.
Cooper spoke about his decision to ask Maisani to coparent Wyatt during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, emphasizing the importance of having two parents present in a child’s life. He reflected on his own upbringing with just his mother and brother and expressed a desire for another adult to fill the parental role in his life. The couple continued to expand their family when they welcomed their second son, Sebastian, in February 2022. Cooper described Sebastian as healthy and happy, even finding his occasional hiccups adorable, and shared that Maisani was in the process of legally adopting Wyatt.
The CNN host revealed that Wyatt refers to him as Daddy, while Maisani is Papa in their family dynamic. Wyatt has embraced his role as a big brother, helping his parents set up Sebastian’s crib and calling him by his middle name, Luke. Cooper and Maisani have also formed a close bond with their friends Andy Cohen’s children, with whom their sons often have playdates. Cooper and Cohen, who cohost CNN’s New Year’s Eve special, have different fashion tastes for their kids, with Cooper preferring simple and classic clothing for his sons.
During an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, Cooper joked about Cohen’s son’s tie-dye Grateful Dead outfits, indicating that Wyatt might have a more traditional style. He envisioned Wyatt as a “little Amish child” and expressed a preference for dressing him simply. Kelly Ripa interjected, suggesting that Wyatt, like his father, could be a baby Ralph Lauren model due to Cooper’s classic fashion sense. The families’ bond is evident in the sweet family photos that Cooper and Maisani have shared, showcasing their journey as proud parents of two adorable sons.
