Anderson Cooper revealed in April that he had adopted son Wyatt Morgan.
And on Tuesday the CNN journalist and on-air personality shared a cute portrait with his boy as he talked about becoming a father at age 53 with People. This is the publication’s first ever Pride Issue.
The son of fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt revealed that ever since he realized he was gay at age 12, he thought he could never become a father which was heartbreaking for him. And now that he has a child, he says it is a ‘dream come true.’
Happy with his son: Anderson Cooper revealed in April that he had adopted son Wyatt Morgan. And on Tuesday the CNN journalist and on-air personality shared a cute portrait with his boy as he talked about becoming a father at age 53 with People
His day job: The star is a longtime on-air journalist for CNN; seen here in early June
In the cover image by Melanie Acevedo, Anderson beams with pride as he holds up his little one.
‘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,”‘ said the journalist. ‘This is a dream come true,’ he added.
Now he feels like a new person.
‘It feels like my life has actually begun,’ said the star.
‘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.’
With his famous mom: The son of fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt revealed that ever since he realized he was gay at age 12, he thought he could never become a father which was heartbreaking for him. And now that he has a child, he says it is a ‘dream come true.’ Seen in 2012; his mother passed away in 2019
He doesn’t even mind waking up every few hours for his boy: ‘I’m more tired than I’ve ever been, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.’
And becoming a father makes him feel a bigger responsibility about the world.
‘I feel invested in the future in a way I hadn’t really before,’ said the New York native.
‘There’s something about having a child that makes you feel connected to what is happening and you want to make sure that the world this child is growing up in is a better one. You suddenly worry much more about the future of all of us.’
Anderson co-parents Wyatt with his ex Benjamin Maisani, 47.
Becoming parents has made them both emotional. Anderson shared: ‘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.’
With his pals: Cooper with Andy Cohen and Jimmy Kimmel on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
In May Cooper said on air: ‘I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father.’
He smiled adding: ‘I’ve never actually said that out loud and it still kind of astonishes me. I’m a dad. I have a son and I want you to meet him.
‘This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old,’ Cooper continued. ‘He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was.’
Cooper went on to explain during the broadcast that his late mother, Vanderbilt, played a role in the naming of his child too. The actress, socialite, author, fashion designer and artist died in June 2019.
‘My son’s middle name is Morgan. It’s a family name on my mom’s side. I know my mom and dad liked the name Morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me,’ Cooper shared.
In February, on what would have been his mother’s 96th birthday, he shared images from his searching through boxes of photos and files.
He commented at the time that his mother ‘kept every note, every letter she ever received’. He said that although it was sad going through the items, it also brought back ‘many amazing memories’.
‘Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy,’ Cooper continued.
Cooper is believed to be single at the moment. He split from his boyfriend of nine years, Ben Maisani, in 2018. He then dated radiologist Victor Lopez for a year until they split last summer.
‘I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son’s birth,’ the new dad continued.
‘Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who can’t have children.
‘My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives.’