Anderson Cooper's Ex Had No Interest in Parenting Leaving Him Afraid of Never Becoming a Father

For the greater majority of his life, Anderson Cooper devoted his time to building a successful career. But becoming a father to son, Wyatt in his 50s with his ex-boyfriend, Ben Maisani, has given him a new lease on life.

Acclaimed TV host Anderson Cooper says he's always wanted to become a dad. And it would be now in his 50s that he finally fulfilled his desire via surrogate, with now ex-boyfriend, Ben Maisani.

The correspondent reflected on the moments of happiness Wyatt had brought him while speaking about the global COVID-19 pandemic and announced his arrival on his CNN show in April 2020.

AN OVERJOYED DAD

Cooper admitted he was overcome with emotion over Wyatt's birth, as he had never believed it would be possible for him to become a parent as a gay man. Reflecting on the moment it all happened, Cooper said:

"I became a father. I’ve never actually said that before, out loud, and it still kind of astonishes me. I’m a dad."

CO-PARENTING WITH HIS EX

Cooper admitted to having a different view of the world not long ago, saying he was more invested in what was happening around more than he had ever been as a journalist, driven by a desire to ensure Wyatt's safety.

Cooper, 54, shared on "The Ellen Show" that he still shares a living space with Maisani, even though they are no longer together. Asked whether being involved romantically again was a possibility, Cooper said no. It was to ensure successful co-parenting.

WANTING TO BE A DAD

Cooper added Maisani initially was not interested in becoming a parent but agreed to do so for his sake. He mentioned this was probably a contributing factor to their relationship ending. Still, he spoke highly of Maisani, calling him a great parent.

Cooper opened up about his fears at age 12 of never becoming a father, on account of him being gay, adding that it was a thought that used to upset him. Speaking to Sirius XM's "Quarantined with Bruce," Cooper said:

"I just love every aspect of it. It's truly the greatest thing ever. I feel like what was I doing before? I don't know."

GROWING UP TO BE A JOURNALIST

The "360" host responded to a viewer's question about his age when he discovered he was gay. The Emmy winner said he wasn't familiar with the definition of "gay" at age 6 or 7, but he knew something different about him.

Born into the Vanderbilt family, Cooper graduated from Yale University and started working as a journalist. After switching stations a couple of times, he settled in CNN, where his popularity skyrocketed due to his coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

STAYING TRUE TO HIMSELF

After receiving accolades for his work, like the National Order of Honour and Merit from the Haitian government and a total of 18 Emmy Awards, there was still something missing in his life. In 2012, he came out as gay.

By 2020, he announced the birth of his son via surrogacy. Wyatt Morgan Cooper was born on April 27, 2020. Cooper said he stumbled on a list of baby names his parents had drafted as suggestions for him when he was born, and "Morgan" was on the list. That is how his son got his middle name.

A PROUD FATHER

Like any proud new parent, Cooper has shared cute anecdotes of his baby on social media over the past few months. So far, fans know that Wyatt enjoys naps, bathtime, and most of all, being read stories.

Following Wyatt's birth, Cooper publicly thanked his surrogate and all surrogates the world over for the sacrifices they made. He noted they played an essential role in ensuring people who couldn't have children of their own were afforded that gift.

HE WON'T RECEIVE INHERITANCE

Despite the journalist's love for his son, he recently shared that he will not be leaving Wyatt with any inheritance. Like many other celebrities and influential people, he publicly announced that he would not be leaving his son with a fortune.

Following in his late mother Gloria Vanderbilt's footsteps, Cooper will be supporting his son until college, and then he has to figure things out on his own. That way, his son will take the initiative to learn and work hard.

The same way Cooper worked his way to being one of America's most prominent journalists, he hopes his son would be able to forge his path when he is old enough to do so as well.