Anderson Cooper on Parenting and Leaving 60 Minutes
18 may 2026 в 17:13
Anderson Cooper has become one of the most recognizable journalists on television thanks to his many years of work at CNN, nearly two decades at CBS on the program «60 Minutes», - and his annual New Year’s Eve special with Andy Cohen. Although Cooper recently left «60 Minutes» in May 2026, he continues to balance his busy television career with his role as a father to two sons, Wyatt and Sebastian.
When announcing his departure from «60 Minutes», - Cooper noted that fatherhood played an important role in this decision. «For nearly twenty years, I was able to balance my work at CNN and CBS, but now I have young children, and I want to spend as much time with them as possible while they still want to spend it with me», - he said in a statement in February 2026.
The CNN host became a father to both children through surrogacy and co-parents them with his former partner Benjamin Maisani, whom he refers to as his «best friend». Over the years, Cooper has openly shared how fatherhood has changed his life. Learn more about Anderson’s two sons below.
The proud father welcomed his eldest son, Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, via surrogate in April 2020. At that time, he shared the joyful news on Instagram with an emotional post. «I want to share the joyful news with you. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who passed away when I was ten», - Anderson wrote in the caption of photos of his newborn.
He celebrated his son’s third birthday with a tribute post on April 27, 2023. «This little nut turned 3 today! Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper. He and his brother Sebastian are the greatest blessings I could have ever dreamed of», - he captioned a carousel of photos of the birthday boy. In the last slide of the post, Anderson even included a family photo with both children and his ex-partner Benjamin.
Shortly before Wyatt’s second birthday, in February 2022, Anderson announced the birth of his younger son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, during a live broadcast on CNN. The next day, he posted a video on Instagram announcing the birth with a sweet caption. «Last night, I announced the birth of my second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. Thank you so much for all the kind messages!» he wrote in the caption at that time.
Anderson explained that he continues to co-parent both children with his «best friend» Benjamin, whom the kids call «dad». The host of Anderson Cooper 360° also noted that Wyatt calls him «dad». Just recently, Anderson shared a video of Sebastian on his first birthday in February 2023. «Sebastian just celebrated his first birthday! He loves listening to the old music box that belonged to my mom. Sebastian is sweet, strong, and smart, and he loves his big brother Wyatt very much», - he wrote. «They fill my heart with joy and love in ways I never could have imagined. Happy birthday, Sebastian!»
Anderson opened up about parenting and fatherhood in an interview with PEOPLE in September 2023. «This is the best time of my life», - he said about raising his two sons. «There is no doubt about it». The author of the book «Astor» joked about how Benjamin speaks to their children in French.
«I work at night, so he is with them in the evenings. We both wake up right before they wake up, give them milk, and spend the first couple of hours of the day just with them», - he told the magazine. «And Benjamin speaks to them in French. I have no idea what they are talking about. I think they are plotting against me»
When announcing his departure from «60 Minutes», - Cooper noted that fatherhood played an important role in this decision. «For nearly twenty years, I was able to balance my work at CNN and CBS, but now I have young children, and I want to spend as much time with them as possible while they still want to spend it with me», - he said in a statement in February 2026.
The CNN host became a father to both children through surrogacy and co-parents them with his former partner Benjamin Maisani, whom he refers to as his «best friend». Over the years, Cooper has openly shared how fatherhood has changed his life. Learn more about Anderson’s two sons below.
The proud father welcomed his eldest son, Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, via surrogate in April 2020. At that time, he shared the joyful news on Instagram with an emotional post. «I want to share the joyful news with you. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who passed away when I was ten», - Anderson wrote in the caption of photos of his newborn.
He celebrated his son’s third birthday with a tribute post on April 27, 2023. «This little nut turned 3 today! Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper. He and his brother Sebastian are the greatest blessings I could have ever dreamed of», - he captioned a carousel of photos of the birthday boy. In the last slide of the post, Anderson even included a family photo with both children and his ex-partner Benjamin.
Shortly before Wyatt’s second birthday, in February 2022, Anderson announced the birth of his younger son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, during a live broadcast on CNN. The next day, he posted a video on Instagram announcing the birth with a sweet caption. «Last night, I announced the birth of my second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. Thank you so much for all the kind messages!» he wrote in the caption at that time.
Anderson explained that he continues to co-parent both children with his «best friend» Benjamin, whom the kids call «dad». The host of Anderson Cooper 360° also noted that Wyatt calls him «dad». Just recently, Anderson shared a video of Sebastian on his first birthday in February 2023. «Sebastian just celebrated his first birthday! He loves listening to the old music box that belonged to my mom. Sebastian is sweet, strong, and smart, and he loves his big brother Wyatt very much», - he wrote. «They fill my heart with joy and love in ways I never could have imagined. Happy birthday, Sebastian!»
Anderson opened up about parenting and fatherhood in an interview with PEOPLE in September 2023. «This is the best time of my life», - he said about raising his two sons. «There is no doubt about it». The author of the book «Astor» joked about how Benjamin speaks to their children in French.
«I work at night, so he is with them in the evenings. We both wake up right before they wake up, give them milk, and spend the first couple of hours of the day just with them», - he told the magazine. «And Benjamin speaks to them in French. I have no idea what they are talking about. I think they are plotting against me»
© Smirnova Olga
