Famous Families
Anderson Cooper Gushes Over ‘Dream Come True’ Son Wyatt: ‘This Is a New Level of Love’
Forever changed. Anderson Cooper said being a dad to son Wyatt Morgan has been more of a “dream come true” than he ever imagined. The beloved news anchor got candid about his life since welcoming his only child via surrogacy alongside ex-partner Benjamin Maisani on April 27.
“It feels like my life has actually begun … And I sort of wonder, what was I waiting for? This is a new level of love,” Anderson, 53, sweetly shared with People for the magazine’s June Pride issue. “It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced, and yet it’s also very familiar and incredibly special and intimate. It’s really extraordinary.”
The CNN star — who is coparenting Wyatt, 2 months, with the night club owner, 47 — expressed how fortunate he feels to be a dad as a proud gay man. “When I was 12 years old and knew I was gay and thought about my life, it always upset me,” he told the outlet. “Because I thought, ‘I will never be able to have a kid.'”
Considering Anderson successfully paved a road to fatherhood, he can’t help but be extra emotional nowadays. “I cry at things I never cried at before,” he adorably dished, adding Wyatt has the same affect on his former beau. “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.”
The Anderson Cooper 360° star also noted how Wyatt changed the way he thinks about “the future.” Since Anderson has been raising his son amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and national protests in support of Black Lives Matter, he wants to make sure his child is safe.
“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,” he stated. “You suddenly worry much more about the future of all of us.”
Between juggling his hectic career and role as a new father, Anderson joked he’s “more tired” than ever before. However, he “wouldn’t change it for the world,” he insisted.
Although Anderson and Ben — who dated from 2009 until March 2018 — are no longer together, the 60 Minutes host couldn’t be more elated to share his journey as a father. While appearing on The Howard Stern Show in mid-May, Anderson revealed the special reason he decided to raise Wyatt with his former lover.
“If something happens to me or even if something doesn’t happen to me, if more people love my son and were in his life, I’m all for that,” he gushed. “My ex is a great guy. I think it’s good to have two parents, if you can.”
The award-winning host said because it was just him, his late brother, Carter, and late mom Gloria Vanderbilt in their household growing up, feelings of loneliness compelled him to coparent with Ben.
“I don’t really have a family, so and my friends become my family … and this was somebody that I was involved with for 10 years,” he explained. “He’s a great guy, [even though] we didn’t work out as a couple.”
Anderson is crushing fatherhood!
